Former Walker County Correctional Officer and Informant in Jail Death Case Appears in Court

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Karen Kelly is free on bail following an arraignment on civil rights violation charges in federal court Thursday. Kelly is accused of violating rights under the guise of law in connection with the death of Anthony “Tony” Mitchell.

According to Justice Department records, Mitchell was denied medical and mental health care at the Walker County Jail in January 2023. Mitchell died in custody two weeks after his arrest.

“Their desire is to make sure this doesn't happen again,” Kelly's attorney Brett Bloomston said after the arraignment on Thursday. “This is just a small part of a much bigger picture. The Walker County Jail needs to shed some light on this.”

Kelly was released on bail Thursday. She has agreed to plead guilty in the coming weeks to a single count of deprivation of rights under cover of law. Kelly is the second correctional officer to plead guilty in the case. Joshua Jones will plead guilty to conspiracy and deprivation of rights later this month. More arrests in the case are expected.

Mitchell was arrested in January 2023 after shooting at Walker County Sheriff's officers who were conducting a welfare check.

Court documents explain that Kelly worked the night shift at the jail about half the nights Mitchell was in custody. Kelly's records show that when Mitchell arrived, he was denied basic care available to all inmates, despite showing signs of mental and medical problems. He was held in a cell that had only a drain in the floor, and was “left naked, without a mat or blanket, on the cold, bare cement floor” most of the time.

Kelly shared her concerns with her immediate supervisor, but not with other staff. Because of prison culture and fear of retaliation, she also did not inform the appropriate authorities.

Mitchell was eventually taken to a hospital in Jasper, where he died.

“There are different degrees of culpability, that is, there are different levels of what people have to do to get in trouble. She's at the lowest level,” Bloomston explained. “She took responsibility for her inaction, which is probably why other people came to the negotiating table and pleaded guilty.”

Mitchell's death was ruled a homicide.

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