Former inmate claims she was abused while pregnant

Southeast Missourian

A former inmate of the Mississippi County Detention Center filed suit Monday, claiming she was abused while pregnant, and the death of her baby resulted from her mistreatment in December 2014. Named as defendants in the suit are Mississippi County and seven detention-center employees, including Cory Hutcheson, Carol Manning, Faith Altamirano, Sally Faye Gammons, Terri Lynn Bowman, a Mr. Henry and a Mr. Lee, whose first names are not known. Legal director of the ACLU of Missouri, Tony Rothert, is representing Tara Rhodes in the abuse suit. He says Rhodes pleaded for five days to get medical attention after she began leaking abdominal fluids, cramping and passing blood clots, but no one would listen. She also was shackled by the waist, wrists and ankles and dragged from one room to another. One of the defendants completed a medical transfer form for Rhodes to be taken to a facility to Audrain Medical Center in Mexico, Missouri, but the form did not specify Rhodes was suffering from a high-risk pregnancy. The lawsuit lodges six counts against the defendants, including denial of medical care, excessive force, municipal liability, violation of the Missouri Constitution, intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery.