By: Maria-Paula

The events of March 6, 2023, to the Virginia family of Ivor Noel Otieno, 28, represent a great loss as his life was lost in an untimely manner through law enforcement brutality. A loss felt by not only those close to him but the entire community.

Together with his mother Caroline Ouko and elder brother Leon Ochieng, Otieno who had a history of mental health struggles and was experiencing mental distress at the time of his death, emigrated to the U.S. from Kenya, and has all along lived in Richmond, the only home he knew since he was only four years old.

“The death of Ivor Noel Otieno a young man in the midst of a mental health crisis, shakes us all to our core. Otieno’s death is yet another tragic example of someone experiencing a mental health crisis dying in the custody of law enforcement,” said Del. Lamont Bagby.

“Otieno, his family, and all Virginians deserve a Commonwealth where every person can access critical mental health treatment without fearing for their lives. I pray for Mr. Otieno, and for his family and friends, as we await more details and hold those who are involved accountable for this heinous crime. We will continue to work towards a future where our criminal justice system can be counted on to keep us all safe.”

Addressing the press at the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Dinwiddie County, shortly after watching the video revealing the brutality that led to Otieno’s death, his family, a Virginia prosecutor, a renowned personal jury and civil rights attorney Ben Crump together with co-counsel Mark Krudys condemned the torture Otieno faced. From a Henrico County jail to the Central State Hospital where authorities claim he died during the admission process; his mother says he was treated worse than a dog.

“What I saw today was heartbreaking, America. It was disturbing. It was traumatic. My son was tortured,” said Caroline Ouko, Otieno’s mother.

Otieno, an upcoming rap artist was working on a recording label and had a promising career ahead of him after releasing numerous single records.

“There is goodness in his music and that’s all I’m left with now, he’s gone. I cannot be at his wedding. I’ll never see a grandchild because someone refused to help him. No one stood up to stop what was going on,” she cried.

Drawing a comparison, lawyer Ben Crump, working on Otieno’s case, also represented the family of George Floyd after his murder in 2020 by police in Minneapolis.

“It is truly shocking that nearly three years after the brutal killing of George Floyd, another family is grieving a loved one who allegedly murdered in nearly the exact same manner – being pinned down by police for 12 agonizing minutes,” Crump reported.

Mark Krudys, another attorney representing Otieno’s family, said that the video showed all the seven deputies now facing charges pushing down on Otieno, who was in handcuffs and leg irons.

“You can see that they’re putting their back into it. Every part of his body is being pushed down with absolute brutality,” he said.

Video surveillance footage of Otieno’s death during the intake process at the hospital was reportedly obtained by commonwealth attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill. She said the footage is a “key element,” of evidence. The preliminary report by the Office of Richmond’s Chief Medical Examiner’s office identified asphyxiation as his cause of death.

Baskervill said Otieno did not appear combative and was sitting in a chair before being pulled to the ground by the officers.

“He was held on the ground for 12 minutes by seven sheriff deputies while he was in handcuffs and leg irons. They smothered him to death. One of the deputies even knelt on his neck while restraining him during the hospital intake process,” said Baskervill.

On March 14, seven Henrico County Sheriff’s deputies were put on administrative leave, arrested and charged with second-degree murder following the Black man’s death after turning themselves in. Three Virginia hospital employees charged with second degree murder in the same death also turned themselves in and were arrested on March 16. All ten charged in Dinwiddie County are being held without bond pending the investigations outcome of the Commonwealths cases.

With footage from the hospital showing a lack of urgency to help Otieno after the deputies determined that he was lifeless and not breathing, while announcing the arrests of the hospital workers, Baskervill said, “The criminal information warrants are based on the evidence collected, analyzed and evaluated so far. Additional charges and arrests are still pending,” she said.

They called on the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene in the case, saying Otieno’s constitutional rights were clearly violated.