Oklahoma County Jail Inmate Dies After Fight Over Food Tray

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A disagreement about a food tray resulted in the death of an inmate at the Oklahoma County jail, authorities said.<br/><br/>Larry Morgan, 44, died Monday, 10 days after he fought

Wednesday, November 8th 2006, 5:58 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A disagreement about a food tray resulted in the death of an inmate at the Oklahoma County jail, authorities said.

Larry Morgan, 44, died Monday, 10 days after he fought with another prisoner, officials said.

Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department spokesman Mark Myers said authorities believe Morgan's cell mate, Darcy Whitacre, 26, attacked Morgan. Whitacre hasn't been charged.

The fight began about 4:45 a.m. Oct. 27 and lasted less than a minute, Myers said.

Morgan was beaten to the ground and repeatedly stomped during the fight, he said. The inmate was transported to OU Medical Center, where he later died.

Morgan and Whitacre were housed in the mental health unit, and shared a cell because they were thought to be nonviolent, Myers said. Morgan was being held on drug complaints and Whitacre was being held on an aggravated assault and battery complaint.

"If someone is considered a danger to themselves or another inmate they will be isolated," Myers said.

Morgan's mother believes they shouldn't have been housed together.

"You should never put a man who is in for assault and battery in with someone else," said Betty Morgan, 68, of Mesa, Ariz.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating Morgan's death.