Roger Lee Largent
Roger Largent, 69, was found dead in his cell at Western Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland, in February 2017. The Maryland State Police and the state medical examiner's office ruled his death a homicide, with blunt force trauma to the head as the cause, and authorities suspected his cellmate. His daughter, Loretta Kline, says in a federal lawsuit that prison officials did not adequately protect him despite his reports of fear and the cellmate's history of assaults. The state attorney general's office declined to comment on the suit, and Kline has continued to seek answers about her father's death through a public records request.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). The state medical examiner ruled the death a homicide from blunt force trauma to the head, and Maryland State Police suspect his cellmate; his daughter's federal lawsuit says prison officials did not protect him despite his reports of fear and the cellmate's history of assaults.
Reported by: state medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); Maryland State Police (outside investigators); daughter Loretta Kline, through a federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His daughter, Loretta Kline, filed a federal wrongful death and civil rights suit against the state, alleging prison officials failed to protect him from his cellmate, and no settlement or award has been reported.