A New York City corrections captain has been charged with negligent homicide, accused of having waited 15 minutes before she issued orders that could have prevented the death of an inmate who killed himself.
The inmate, Ryan Wilson, died in his cell Nov. 22 at the Manhattan Detention Complex.
He was upset after Department of Correction Capt. Rebecca Hillman ordered him to be moved to another housing unit following an argument with an inmate, according to a news release from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
Court documents and statements allege that while the move was pending, Wilson threatened to take his own life if Hillman did not let him out of his cell, the release said.
An officer, who was not identified, tried to calm Wilson and asked that Hillman immediately come to the housing unit.
"Instead, Hillman went into the control room, where she began filling out paperwork," the news release said.
After about 10 minutes, Wilson began a countdown and then killed himself. The officer asked for Wilson's cell door to be opened so he could help, but prosecutors alleged that Hillman said that Wilson was "fine" and that he "was playing."
"Then, Hillman signaled to the officer in the control room to open the cell. When the door opened one minute later, Hillman ordered the officer not to enter and said that Mr. Wilson was faking it because he was still breathing," the news release said.
Hillman eventually called for nonemergency backup and ordered the cell to be closed. She "then left the area to go on her usual rounds," prosecutors alleged.
It was not until 15 minutes had passed that Hillman ordered the cell door to be opened again and called for a medical team, prosecutors said.
Wilson had a faint pulse, according to the district attorney's office , but by the time medics arrived minutes later, he was dead.
An attorney for Wilson's family did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Hillman, 38, was charged Monday in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with criminally negligent homicide and making false statements in a written account of what happened. The Supreme Court is New York's main trial court.
Prosecutors alleged that Hillman falsely said in her written account that Wilson had asked to be moved and that she had "immediately" ordered officers to help him.
Hillman pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Monday. Her attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, did not immediately respond to a phone call and an email seeking comment.
Montgomery told The Associated Press that Hillman is a "hardworking mother and employee who did her best in a very difficult job that is defined by trauma and tragedy" and that they "look forward to defending the serious charges against her."
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.