More Arrests Expected in Tony Mitchell's Tragic Walker County Jail Death: 'The Tip of the Iceberg,' Says Lawyer

The family of Tony Mitchell had long feared the worst about his harrowing two-week stay at Walker County Jail, but the recent revelations in federal court records were beyond their worst nightmares.

“We always suspected this, but seeing it laid out is truly shocking,’’ said Jon C. Goldfarb, the Birmingham attorney representing Mitchell’s family in a civil lawsuit over his death.

Mitchell, 33, passed away on January 26, 2023, at Walker Baptist Medical Center, two weeks after his arrest for allegedly shooting at Walker County deputies during a welfare check.

Upon his arrest, Mitchell, who had covered himself in black spray paint and claimed to have a "portal to hell," was taken into custody. The coroner's report later listed his death as a homicide, citing hypothermia and sepsis from infected injuries sustained during his incarceration and subsequent medical neglect.

In March 2023, Mitchell’s mother, Margaret Mitchell, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that jail deputies tased her son and locked him in a freezer, which led to his death.

Former Walker County Jail corrections officer Joshua Conner Jones recently agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter involving reckless conduct in Mitchell’s death. Jones faces up to life in prison.

Jones’ plea agreement, a detailed 18-page document made public this week, outlined the severe mistreatment Mitchell endured. Jones admitted, “Collectively, we did it. We killed him.”

The plea agreement also identified five co-conspirators in the Mitchell case, who remain unnamed and uncharged, though more arrests are anticipated.

“Jones has taken responsibility for his part in Mr. Mitchell’s death,” said W. Scott Brower, Jones’ defense attorney. “This is likely just the beginning, and more individuals will be charged for their roles in Mr. Mitchell’s death.”

Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith stated, “While the charges against a former corrections officer are a step towards resolution, the investigation is ongoing, and maintaining its integrity is crucial.”

Initial reports claimed Mitchell was placed in a freezer at the jail. However, the plea agreement clarified that he was confined to a "notoriously cold" cell without basic facilities like a sink, toilet, or running water.

Mitchell was in a dire state upon booking: disoriented, unable to walk, and non-combative. He was only wrapped in a suicide smock. Jones stated that Mitchell did not receive any medical evaluation until the morning of his death, two weeks later.

Corrections officers repeatedly ignored his needs, with one officer dismissively saying, “He gets what he gets since he shot at cops.” Records show that officers taunted Mitchell, telling him he was now in their "house."

By January 26, 2023, Mitchell's condition had deteriorated severely. Despite a nurse’s order to take him to a hospital, the officers ignored the directive, with one co-conspirator crudely dismissing it as unimportant.

Throughout his incarceration, Mitchell was largely unresponsive and in severe distress, frequently talking incoherently about "demons." The officers used his supposed combativeness as an excuse to deny him medical care, despite his lack of aggressive behavior.

Following Mitchell’s death, a leaked jail video showed officers mistreating him, but the plea agreement shed light on their exact words and actions.

Goldfarb emphasized the callousness of the officers, particularly highlighting the dismissal of urgent medical needs. “Tony was in dire medical distress,” Goldfarb said. “Their dismissal of his condition shows just how callous they were toward his life.”

As the criminal case unfolds, the civil lawsuit will be on hold. Goldfarb expects more charges and stresses the importance of holding everyone involved accountable.

“Tony’s life was important, and we want everyone responsible to know that,” he said.