"On or about the summer of 1995 inmate workers were ordered to block off the fresh air intakes that serviced the individualized floor cooling-heating units after staff complaints that the cooling units were failing to deal with the summer heat and keep the units cool enough (the Unit inmate population had been doubled over its design capacity).

"Winter of 1998-99 saw a new Captain, Mr. Grady Turner, assume his duties at F.C.I./F.P.C. Jesup. Captain Turner became obsessed that for eight years the inmates were able to raise or lower their windows to get fresh air. During wax stripping operations noxious fumes could be ventilated out, the inmates being confined to their dormitories by prison regulations for much of the 24 hour day. This freedom apparently irritated the Captain, who began to make personal surveillance of the window opening-closing operations by inmates. Two inmates were seen by Captain Turner smoking in the rear stairwell with a raised window and were sent to the "hole." The word went out that inmates who sought fresh air would be put in the disciplinary unit in the adjacent medium-high security prison. Captain Turner would often be seen watching the windows from the distance with binoculars. He appeared to be obsessed with having windows sealed shut. Under the Captain’s pressure, the windows were bolted down shut making nearly air-tight "chambers" out of the dormitories. Back doors were also sealed shut and locked. During the final weeks of March 1999, just a few days before the gassing, all lower floors had their windows sealed shut. Although upper windows had not yet been bolted down, workers were told they too were to be done. Under threat of disciplinary action, inmates were forbidden from opening their windows in any event. The only possibility for fresh air in the sixty-person closed chamber dormitories was a front exit way that consists of two doors with an airlock between. In effect the prisoners were in air-tight chambers.

"The prison camp staff were notified by inmates of concerns over the inability to ventilate the units during wax-stripping and drain-cleaning, but these concerns went unheeded.

"The Maintenance Department decides to clean the interiors of the vent systems. The Maintenance Supervisor contacts "Powerhouse" Supervisor for some chemicals to sterilize the vent systems. The "Powerhouse" Supervisor provides a jug of "Biocide" manufactured by Betz-Dearborn Chemical Company. This is kept outside the powerhouse facility due to its toxic nature, and has the symbol of skull and crossbones marked prominently on its side. This Biocide is not approved for human contact. It contains thiocyanate, a combination of sulfur and cyanide. A quantity of chlorine bleach was also provided to the inmate workers. Mixed with chlorine bleach, cyanide gas can be released…. The Biocide/chlorine was mixed and applied to the A-1 and A-2 Units on April 8 and to the B-1 and B2 units on April 9. Many inmates reported to medical as the toxicity built in their systems from the poisonous vapors. Many inmates would not be treated because of fear that the prison camp would retaliate and place them in the "hole" or ship them. Burning eyes, dizziness, severe headaches, raw throats, bleeding noses and sore lungs were common complaints. The long term effects of this exposure are not at present known."

(signed) William F. Lincoln, M.D.

a Jesup victim