State records indicate Tony Mitchell’s death now ruled a homicide

WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - The death of a Walker County Jail inmate, Anthony “Tony” Mitchell, has been ruled a homicide, according to a newly released death certificate. Now that Mitchell’s death’s been ruled a homicide, this means criminal charges will likely follow.  Right now, the State Bureau of Investigations and the FBI are investigating.

Documents obtained from the attorney for the family of Mitchell revealed the manner of death is a homicide. Previously, state records listed the cause of death as pending investigation.

On the new certificate, the cause of death is listed as hypothermia and sepsis – resulting from infected injuries obtained during incarceration and medical neglect.

As for possible charges, local defense attorney Roger Appell says the consequences will vary based on the potential charges.

“Murder, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide each one is lower than the other. I mean murder can be ten years to life. Manslaughter can be two to twenty and criminally negligent homicide as merely a misdemeanor, up to twelve months. So there is a big difference in those type of charges.”

Mitchell’s family is suing the sheriff department, alleging he was locked inside a freezer while in their custody before his death.

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office responded to the lawsuit. In the court filing, officers deny most of the accusations from Mitchell’s family in a lawsuit.

WBRC previously spoke with the department’s lead attorney, Randy McNeill, after the filings. The sheriff’s office said they never put Mitchell into a freezer or that he was kept naked in a jail cell.

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