5 charged in death of New Madrid County Jail inmate

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Five people have been charged in connection with a fatal assault at the New Madrid County Jail.

New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney Lewis Recker filed second-degree murder and first degree assault charges against Joshua Darter, Maurice Ely, Henry Lewis Hill, Pedro S. Rivera and Trevor J. Hatton, who were prisoners in the New Madrid County Jail on Tuesday with John Wayne Reynolds.

According to a probable-cause statement, Reynolds was in the day room of the jail when he was approached by the five men.

"The other inmates were accusing Mr. Reynolds of being an informant because his name was written on the jail cell wall saying he was a 'snitch,'" the investigating officer said in the statement.

Witnesses told the officer a blanket was put over Reynolds' head and the others punched him. Later Reynolds told the other inmates he did not deserve it, according to the probable-cause statement.

Described as having a large bruise on his forehead, the witnesses said Reynolds was sitting on the edge of his bunk when he began "wobbling" then slumped onto the floor and was unresponsive.

Reynolds was taken by ambulance to Missouri Delta Medical Center. where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy Wednesday determined Reynolds died from a lacerated spleen, the investigator wrote.

Reynolds was in custody on a drug-related charge, according to officials.

The first-degree assault charges stem from an incident Monday involving Michael S. McHale, another inmate. McHale was treated for a black eye, contusions and abrasions.

The five were arraigned Friday. Bond was set at $1,000,000 for each.

Before the new charges, Darter, 21, of New Madrid was in custody for two counts of child abuse, first-degree assault and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child; Ely, 19, of Mesquite, Texas, was accused of second-degree murder, distribution, delivery, manufacture or attempt to possess with intent a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance; Hatton, 19, of Tallapoosa, Mo., was charged with first-degree assault; Hill, 28, of New Madrid was being on a probation violation; and Rivera, 21, of Clarkton, Mo., was in custody on two charges of second-degree assault.

Contracted Friday, Sheriff Terry Stevens declined further comment on the case.

Pertinent address:

New Madrid, MO