Murder Charges Against 3 in Irvo Otieno Death Case Downgraded

Dinwiddie County, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Fourteen months after the death of Irvo Otieno at Central State Hospital in Dinwiddie, three suspects in the case have seen their charges downgraded.

The two Henrico Sheriff’s Deputies and the hospital staffer are now charged with involuntary manslaughter instead of second degree murder. Ten people were originally charged but 7 of those have already seen the charges dropped.

A judge granted motions Wednesday to change the second-degree murder charges against the three individuals who still have active cases — Kaiyell Sanders, Brandon Rodgers and Wavie Jones — to involuntary manslaughter.

Earlier this month, Otieno’s family criticized the decision to drop murder charges against five people and continued to call on the U.S. Department of Justice to step in for a federal investigation.

Otieno died in March 2023 after he was pinned down by Henrico County sheriff’s deputies and Central State Hospital workers while in custody and being admitted to the psychiatric hospital in Dinwiddie County. His death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation by the state medical examiner’s office.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, there have been widespread calls for better mental health care services and changes to emergency responses. An $8.5 million wrongful death settlement was finalized.