Two Springfield, Illinois, paramedics were charged with murder after bodycam footage showed them placing a patient face down on a stretcher an hour before he was declared dead at a neighboring hospital.
Peter Cadigan, 50, and Peggy Finley, 44, both LifeStar workers, have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the December 18 death of Earl J. Moore Jr. He had 35 years of age.
Tuesday at a press conference, Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright stated that in addition to lying face down, Moore had straps wrapped around his back and legs.
According to authorities in Springfield, officers were dispatched to Moore’s home in the Pillsbury neighborhood at approximately 2:00 a.m. after getting a call regarding armed individuals inside an apartment in the building.
Moore was experiencing alcohol withdrawal-induced hallucinations when officials arrived, according to a statement from the Springfield Police Department. An ambulance was sent and arrived within minutes.
Earl Moore Jr., pictured above on his sister’s Facebook page, was placed face down on the stretcher while experiencing alcohol withdrawal.
Moore was the one who dialed the cops. When police officers arrived, a woman opened the door for them. She tells the cops that there are no armed individuals present. The woman also stated that Moore was experiencing alcohol withdrawals and had not had alcohol in days.
In the bodycam clip, the woman can be seen escorting the cops into the room where Moore was lying down.
The woman states, “He called you for no apparent reason.” When asked if an ambulance should be called, the mother responds, “Every time I bring him to the hospital, they just release him.”
She further stated, “He sees things that aren’t there and hears voices in his head.”
An cop informs Moore, “She’s concerned about you, man.” She stated that you’ve been having some difficulty. Moore finally breaks the silence: “I could use some water.”
Peter Cadigan, 50, is being held at the Sangamon County jail on a $1 million bail.
Peggy Finley, 44, can be heard many times on the body cam clip berating Moore.
At approximately 2:00 a.m. on December 18, police in Springfield were dispatched to an address in the Pillsbury area after receiving a call regarding armed individuals inside an apartment in the building.
Moore had not had a drink in days, according to the woman who answered the door for responding officers.
Following a few minutes, the ambulance arrives. Finley walks into the flat.
She then cries at Moore, “I will not play with you tonight!” Later, he says, “Stop acting so stupid.” She continues, “You’ll have to walk because we’re not carrying you!” I am absolutely not in the mood for this nonsense.
Then, a police officer interjects, “If you want to go to the hospital, man, you’re going to have to help us out a bit.”
Moore was transported to the stretcher by police, according to State’s Attorney Dan Wright.
The footage reveals that once outside, the paramedics begin placing Moore on the stretcher. He is then brought to the ambulance and placed inside. The video concludes shortly thereafter.
Officials reported that Moore was pronounced deceased approximately one hour later at the hospital.
The woman who opened the door stated that Moore was experiencing hallucinations and hearing voices in his brain.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon stated that his cause of death was compressional and positional asphyxia ‘due to prone face-down restraint on a paramedic transportation cot/stretcher by tightened straps across the back and lower body in the setting of lethargy and underlying chronic alcoholism.’
Illinois State Police investigated the death of Moore.
Their discoveries led to the filing of charges against Cadigan and Finley. They were apprehended on January 9th. Each is being jailed on a $1 million bond at the Sangamon County jail.
Cadigan is detained in the prison’s medical center, according to the jail records.
If convicted, the couple faces up to 60 years in prison. They are scheduled to appear in court again on January 19.
Wright stated during the news conference that Cadigan and Finley “acted without legal authority” and that they “tightened Moore’s restraints.”
Due to their expertise, he noted, they should have understood that their actions carried a high risk of causing severe bodily harm or death.
The pair’s attorney, D. Peter Wise, stated to The Washington Post, “These are two good people involved in a very strange criminal case.”
The president of the NAACP’s Springfield chapter, Teresa Haley, highlighted parallels between Moore’s death and the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a police officer.
Haley stated in an interview with The Illinois Times, ‘It was nearly worse.
If this man was already having trouble breathing and was then placed facedown on a stretcher, it was terrible to see the video and how they treated him.’
She continued, ‘They physically strapped him down and threw his hands behind his back. He was unable to move even if he tried.
According to his obituary, Moore’s funeral took place on December 29 in Springfield.
The victim worked as a manager at McDonald’s for 18 years, according to the eulogy. He enjoyed fishing, having fun, and assisting whomever he could whenever he could.
Following the revelation of the accusations against Cadigan and Finley, his sister commented on Facebook, “My brother’s death was caused by careless, insensitive, unprofessional, “medically trained” personnel.”
She stated, ‘Earl Moore was compassionate, witty, and had an infectious smile; he did not deserve this. They ALL played a role and ALL failed my brother; I hope the legal system does not also fail him.
Darris Cole, the cousin of Moore, wrote on Facebook, “Praying for Justice for My Family.” Remember that God is in control. Moore was described as “sweet and loving” and “one of the greatest men” by a relative. She said, “He has passed but will never be forgotten.”