Medical neglect in correctional facilities remains a concern
Del Shea Perry remembers her son Hardell Sherrell as “my baby,” despite his imposing 6-foot-4 frame. Perry recalled the gut wrenching moments leading up to his death, saying, “I didn’t know he was dying. I just thought he was really sick.”
As the details of Hardell’s tragic 2018 death emerged, a whistleblower complaint exposed serious failures in medical care at Beltrami County Jail. At the time, MEnD Correctional Care, the company responsible for providing medical care at the jail, was the state’s largest provider of medical services to correctional facilities.
According to the complaint, Dr. Todd Leonard, a key figure at MeND whose medical license was later revoked, was informed of a death at the jail. “I heard him tell whomever he was speaking with that there had been a death in the Beltrami jail,” the complaint read. “My heart sank because I knew it was probably Hardel.”
The whistleblower also voiced concerns about Hardell’s deteriorating condition, telling Dr. Leonard, “I disagreed that there was nothing wrong… Vital signs and ECGs don’t lie, both of which were consistently abnormal with Hardel.” Despite the warning signs, Dr. Leonard dismissed the concerns, telling the whistleblower not to “jump to conclusions,” adding that such actions “could jeopardize his company.”
Sherrell’s preventable death led to charges of manslaughter and medical neglect against former director of nursing Michelle Skroch.
The situation escalated when Sherrell repeatedly begged for medical attention, with staff at the facility reportedly dismissing his pleas, thinking he was faking his symptoms. The whistleblower overheard a medical tech and RN at the jail saying Sherrell was “faking being paralyzed” and “faking being incontinent.”
Even though his vital signs indicated severe medical issues, including a dangerously high heart rate of 132 beats per minute, his requests for care were ignored.
A thorough review by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, including over 400 documents and 800 video clips, revealed that Beltrami County Jail violated several standards. These included failing to conduct proper well-being checks, misdiagnosing Sherrell’s condition, and delaying his transfer to a hospital. The findings pointed to systemic failures in the jail’s medical procedures that contributed to his death.
“This feels like small vindication because, as I said, no matter who gets criminally charged, it will never compare to the sentence I got, which was a life sentence. My baby is gone,” Perry said during a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol March 11, where the charges against Skroch were announced.
“Hardell should have been here today. He wasn’t doomed to die. He had a condition that was treatable,” said Zorislav Leyderman, the attorney representing the Sherrell family, speaking at the same press conference. “He wasn’t faking, as everyone thought. He was just fighting for his life.”
The charges against Skroch are part of a larger conversation about the quality of medical care in jails and prisons, and the ongoing issue of medical neglect faced by incarcerated individuals.
Advocates like Danielle Mathias, senior organizer at the Minnesota Freedom Fund, are calling for stronger legal protections to prevent such incidents. “No one should have to beg for medical treatment. No one should be subjected to cruel and preventable suffering,” Mathias said.
The Hardel Sherrell Act was passed in 2021 to address neglect in correctional facilities. Data from the Minnesota Department of Corrections showed that 11 people died in Minnesota County jails in 2024, down from 20 in 2023, according to MN Dept. of Corrections data. Advocates argue that enforcement of these laws has been poor. Mathias also urged lawmakers to support the act, which would strengthen medical care protections for incarcerated individuals.
Amid these ongoing struggles, legal experts like Zorislav Leyderman emphasize the importance of documenting incarcerated individuals’ experiences. “The problem is that people who are incarcerated cannot choose their own care. The best advice I can give is to keep a record of what’s happening,” Leyderman said. “Try to reach out to your loved ones to explain what you’re experiencing.”
Michelle Gross of Communities United Against Police Brutality echoed this advice, urging families to take an active role. “One of the first things I say to families when they call is that they need to get on the phone with health services and demand care. This is not something you can remain silent on,” Gross said. “The more people that call, the more likely it is that a person will get care.”
Skroch was arrested two weeks ago and is scheduled to appear in Beltrami County Court on April 11.
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses to ccombs@spokesman-recorder.com.