IG seeks discipline for agents in suicide case

Tuesday, December 7th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Washington-AP) -- The Justice Department inspector general reaffirmed today that a federal inmate committed suicide at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City. But it was recommended that four federal officers who allegedly lied during investigations of the death of Kenneth Trentadue be disciplined.

While rejecting allegations of a cover up in the case, the inspector general did criticize the Bureau of Prisons response, the F-B-I's investigation and its handling of some evidence. Although Trentadue was found hanging in his cell, his brother, Jesse, believes he was murdered by guards who then tried to make the death look like a suicide.

Trentadue's estate is suing several federal agencies and officers in the case. Contrary to some published speculation, the report didn't raise any direct questions about the F-B-I's handling of evidence from the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building in April 1995. Officials said it was unlikely the problems cited in the report had any bearing on the handling of evidence from the bombing.