Accused Cop-Killer Strangled In Cell
Teen Found Dead After Being Charged In Hit-And-Run Death Of Md. Officer; FBI Investigating
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Jail Cell Murder Investigation
A 19-year-old held for the death of a Maryland police officer was found strangled to death in his cell. The FBI has joined in on the investigation. Bob Orr reports.
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Police Cpl. Richard Findley was struck and killed by a truck while conducting a routine traffic stop Friday, June 27, 2008. Ronnie White, 19, was charged with his murder. White was found strangled in his cell Sunday, June 29, 2008. (CBS)
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This image provided by the Prince George's County Department of Corrections shows Ronnie White. Maryland authorities say the death of White, 19, found slumped in his prison cell, was a homicide, a day after his arrest for running over and killing a Prince George's County police officer. The Maryland Medical Examiner ruled that White died from asphyxiation and strangulation. (AP)
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Prince George's County Chief of Police Melvin High, third from left, talks about the death of Ronnie White during a press conference at the County Administration Building as Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson, left, Director of Operations of Corrections ,Greg Harris, second left, and Public Safety Director Vernon Herron, right, look on Monday June 30, 2008, in Upper Marlboro, Md. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
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As state police took over the investigation, an attorney for inmate Ronnie L. White's family said the young man's attackers "took it upon themselves to be both the judge, the jury and the executioner."
White's death shocked and angered officials in Prince George's County, including County Executive Jack Johnson, who likened it to "vigilante justice."
Investigators from the FBI and state police joined the case Monday after the state medical examiner concluded that White had been strangled Sunday morning.
White, 19, was arrested early Saturday on charges of ramming a stolen pickup truck into police Cpl. Richard Findley. Findley had gotten out of his police cruiser Friday while trying to conduct a traffic stop on the truck. White allegedly struck him and dragged him for a short distance in the community of Laurel.
Johnson immediately moved to curb speculation that White's death was the result of police officers seeking revenge, saying the slaying was "unrelated to any act" by police.
Attorney Bobby G. Henry Jr., who represented White's family, urged the U.S. Department of Justice to join the investigation.
"This did not happen on some dark, abandoned, lonely road. This happened in broad daylight in the custody of county officials, and something is wrong," said Henry, Jr.
In a statment, the U.S. Attorney's office said it "will provide guidance and legal advice to the officials looking into the death and seeking to develop evidence of criminal violations."
County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey said his office would convene a grand jury to review evidence in the case. He said investigators were scrutinizing seven correctional officers who had access to White, who was being held separately from other inmates. Ivey also said other workers at the county jail and inmates would be questioned.
"We'll follow the evidence wherever it leads," he said.
Rich Wolf, an FBI spokesman in Baltimore, confirmed that the agency had opened a civil rights case, but he would not comment on the investigation. Calls to state police were not immediately returned.
White's death is the latest in a series of security lapses at the jail, which is 20 miles outside Washington in one of Maryland's largest counties. Last month, the county's corrections director was fired after guns vanished from the armory. In February, a former police official convicted of second-degree murder was found with a handcuffs key.
A corrections officer suspected of being a gang member was charged in March with bringing cell phones to inmates who were members of the Bloods street gang. And earlier this year, two female officers were suspended for allegedly having sexual contact with inmates.
More than 450 guards work at the 20-year-old facility, which had an average daily population of 1,489 prisoners during the 2007 fiscal year. White was being held in a cell by himself, to protect him from other prisoners, because of the high profile of his alleged crime.
"This shouldn't happen," Johnson said Monday night. "Every citizen we bring into our custody should be protected."
Curtis Knowles, head of the county's correctional officers union, said Tuesday that union lawyers advised him not to comment on the case because of the investigation. On Monday, he urged people not to reach any conclusions before the investigation had run its course.
Corrections officials have said White had no visible signs of trauma on his body when guards bringing him a meal found him slumped on the floor next to his bed about 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Guards say they say White alive 20 minutes before finding his body and no one reported hearing anything unusual. With no surveillance cameras watching White's cell block, there's no image of the killer entering or leaving White's lockup, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.
A preliminary autopsy by the state medical examiner in Baltimore ruled the death a homicide and found two broken bones in his neck.
None of the seven guards or an unspecified number of supervisors who could have had contact with White have been suspended or placed on leave during the investigation, according to Vicki Duncan, spokeswoman for the corrections division.
White had a prior criminal record that included serving time for drug charges.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 266 CommentsI really don''t feel very sorry for Ronnie White and he is ghetto trash for running over and killing a COP.
I will say that It is Wrong for Whom Ever did have Access to his Cell and strangled Ronnie White. These Young Kids Kill People and gang up on Homelss People and beat them to death laugh about it and think its no big deal. Their White Trash or Black Ghetto Parents teach them NO MORALS or Common Courtsey and these 14-15-16-17+ year old kids need to be tried as an adult and get the death penality and the sentence to be carried out within 30 days. That will sure change the minds of these YOUNG PUNKS pulling this POOP in Society.
one less expense "
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Their state police and the FBI are investigating. I really don''t think we''re saving money with this vigilante justice. Getting off on this kind of incident shows YouNeedToGetLaidMore. And besides, he would have suffered more if left alive, if you get into that sort of thing. Too bad for the slain officer, too.
This is a really good attorney I believe both implies two things while judge, jury and executioner are three.
Posted by mialove1963
So, did your god decide to let this habitual criminal run over and kill this police officer? Did he decide to let someone enter Whites cell and end HIS life? Huh?
Peace
The only tragedy about the "boy''s" death is that he didn''t SUFFER like the wonderful man that he KILLED. And what makes you think his life was "precious"???? He was a 19 y/o THIEF who probably would have been a drain on society if he hadn''t been caught. Now, we''ll never have to worry about HIM being back on the street. EVER.
I kinda like being depraved. Keeps things interesting.
Posted by concerned921 at 02:49 PM : Jul 01, 2008
Then again, there was no trial and maybe the crime was pinned on him and he was not the one who did it. Now we will probably never know--but if he was innocent that means your comments mark YOU as a low life, drain on society and a monster. Never forget: Just because someone is held or arrested, does not mean they are guilty of what they are being charged for--we leave the guilty or innocence of people to the courts and not to vigilante or judgmental citizens like yourself.
This was a triple tragedy, to the policeman, to the boy charged and to the families of each--to the murderer: may you reap exactly the same as what you have sown.
If he was so much of a loved one they would have taught him right from wrong. I''m having a hard time understanding the situation. I guess the loving ones will raise a big stink and sue the County, wind up with a Million or so, then wink at each other. Guess they did bring him up right.
I really don''''t feel very sorry for Ronnie White and he is ghetto trash for running over and killing a COP.
I will say that It is Wrong for Whom Ever did have Access to his Cell and strangled Ronnie White. These Young Kids Kill People and gang up on Homelss People and beat them to death laugh about it and think its no big deal. Their White Trash or Black Ghetto Parents teach them NO MORALS or Common Courtsey and these 14-15-16-17+ year old kids need to be tried as an adult and get the death penality and the sentence to be carried out within 30 days. That will sure change the minds of these YOUNG PUNKS pulling this POOP in Society.
Oh yes there is.
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Posted by diatreme
There was room for both Malcolm and Martin. Many whites demonized Martin until they saw Malcolm as the alternative, which scared the hell out of them. Martin showed the love of God to many whites and Malcolm showed the fear of God to many whites. Both were needed during those times.
Give em time I''m sure it won''t take long...
Appearances are often decieving, that''s why we have investigations. The lack of humanity in some of these posts is disgusting.
Ok.... what % of the overall convictions get overturned as a result of DNA testing? Yeah - here''s a clue.... veeeeery veeeeery few. It''s people like YOU who can sit around thinking - gee, the truth is like a cloud - all fluffy & nebulous - there IS no truth really - so how can I find anyone guilty?
Whatever....
Must have been all the comments against liberals...
point taken CBS
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