Prisoner charged with killing another inmate in Yakima jail

Thu., Sept. 27, 2007

The Spokesman-Review

YAKIMA – A Yakima County jail inmate has been charged with the fatal beating of another inmate whose family has accused authorities of bungling the investigation and his medical care.

Prosecutors announced Tuesday that Nathan Del Parsley, 33, had been charged with second-degree murder and that four others would be charged in the attack on Damian A. Long, 30, of Naches.

Deputy Prosecutor Tamara Taylor said arrest warrants were being prepared for four other men, three of whom were released from custody after guards discovered Long had been beaten in a cell on Aug. 9. He died 12 days later at Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center of internal bleeding from blows to his back and chest.

Long, a landscape designer and construction worker, was arrested June 21 after being accused of beating his wife, causing bruises over her entire body. He was awaiting trial on charges of domestic violence and first-degree assault. His record included convictions for obstruction of justice, assault, theft, burglary, forgery and harassment.

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