Inmate’s death prompts investigation

POCATELLO, Idaho – Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen has ordered an independent investigation after a diabetic inmate died earlier this month.

Kevin McNabb Sr., 51, died Oct. 13 after having been booked into the Bannock County jail two days earlier on charges that he violated his probation by failing a drug test.

Some inmates said the death could have been avoided if jailers had relented to McNabb’s requests for insulin.

Nielsen said a probe – to be conducted by law enforcement agencies in nearby Bingham and Fremont counties – is customary when an inmate dies behind bars. But due to the statements made by other inmates, Nielsen said an investigation in this case is especially important.

“The sugar levels were pretty high. That gives (the witnesses) some credence. So I’m ordering a full investigation,” Nielsen said. “I understand the concern. The best I can do is have an independent investigation check it out. There are two sides to every story. I want to get both sides.”

McNabb had been jailed in Pocatello many times, family members said. Jailers knew he had diabetes and carried medication and a testing kit with him.

“Another inmate reported that he heard him almost begging for his insulin,” said McNabb’s brother, Mike McNabb, in an interview with the State Journal. “All I know is, there are a lot of problems.”

Justin Walters, of Blackfoot, said he overheard McNabb’s requests for insulin.

At the time, Walters was awaiting bail money on charges of writing insufficient-funds checks.

“There was me and five other guys and a female waiting to get booked out. The guy kept telling them he needed insulin,” Walters said. “They kept saying, ‘We’ll get it to you. We’re waiting on a nurse.’ I was sitting there and he asked for it like six or seven times.”

Walters said he and the other inmates were later moved into a different room where they could see someone trying to revive McNabb with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.