PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW

The following letter written by daughter Hallie was published in the Idaho Statesman (Boise) on Sunday, August 3. Hallie is our "team leader" as we seek justice for son Milo's wrongful death while incarcerated. KW

Moscow police released hundreds of unsealed documents related to the Kohberger case, just hours after the sentencing. While disturbing to read, the public has a right to access such information.

Milo Warnock

In April, James Johnson was sentenced for murdering his cellmate, Milo Warnock, at Idaho State Correctional Center. Afterward, I requested investigatory reports from Idaho State Police but was denied, citing exemptions for law enforcement and correctional records. In actuality, those records may be subject to release, but will require petitioning the denial.

At best, the state imposes obstacles to prevent releasing information. At worst, it hides its own incompetence, corruption and culpability. Either way, it is disrespectful to the citizens that it serves. The right to records isn’t about sensationalizing a tragedy but ensuring transparency and accountability. Even if no one ever requests a report, the possibility encourages thorough investigations.

When individuals entrusted in the care of the state are harmed, it is of utmost importance that the public has visibility into those transgressions. Incarcerated individuals are a vulnerable population, unable to exercise choices to maximize personal safety. We cannot wholly trust that the system will do the right thing in the absence of oversight and influence of public opinion. HWJ

YET ANOTHER ARTICLE

 Here's the link to an article that appeared in today's edition of the Lewiston Tribune.

We understand that the Idaho Statesman is preparing another article focused on how Milo Warnock and James M. Johnson became cellmates. KW

LINK TO ARTICLE

Here's the link to the article written by Alex Brizee of the Idaho Statesman. This relates to the court hearing mentioned in the previous post.

https://amp.idahostatesman.com/news/local/crime/article298651418.html

UPDATE: MILO WARNOCK WRONGFUL DEATH

Milo Warnock 1977-2023

Readers may know that our son Milo died at the hands of his cellmate at the Idaho State Corrections Center on December 10, 2023, just weeks short of his 46^th birthday. Milo was a non-violent offender sentenced to prison on a DUI charge.

Shortly after arriving at prison and receiving classification as a minimum security inmate, Milo was harshly punished for trying to regulate the time of day in which he swallowed his medication and subsequently placed in maximum security with violent offenders. He was confined to a cell for 23 hours a day and lost all privileges – no educational advantages, church services, socialization, etc. Plus -- his cellmate, James M. Johnson, appeared to be delusional and schizophrenic. (I wonder about that now as James sits quietly in court and answers the judge politely. Was he just intimidating Milo?)

At any rate, Milo didn’t know how to cope. “If I take any action at all, it will be wrong,” Milo wrote to me. And the fact that his last hours were spent in anguish with no help from the prison staff troubles me more than his death.

After a prolonged investigation by the Idaho State Police, the Ada County District Attorney charged James with first degree murder and evidence tampering with regard to Milo’s death. Initially, James entered a plea of not guilty, but the “tampering with evidence” charge was dropped, and he changed his plea to guilty in hopes of receiving a fixed sentence of not more than 35 years. However, at court this morning, the judge stated that she will review his record and the pre-sentence investigation before determining the sentence.  There will not be a trial. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 4.

In Milo’s name, we will continue to work to make the public aware of the need for judicial, corrections, and mental health reform. Too many – both men and women – are incarcerated. More appropriate sentences should be imposed on non-violent offenders. KW