MORGAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — A Morgan County grand jury has indicted an inmate in connection with the death of a correctional officer earlier this year.
District Attorney Russell Johnson says Reginald Steed is charged with first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a weapon in a penal facility. Investigators say Steed stabbed correctional officer Dustin Pedigo at the Morgan County Correctional Complex in February.
The attack led to a lockdown at the facility, and Steed was later transferred to Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.
During testimony, the grand jury heard concerns about security issues at the prison, including door lock failures and policies that may have contributed to the incident. State Senator Ken Yager has said the tragedy could have been prevented if those concerns had been addressed.
The grand jury is set to reconvene June 23 to hear additional information as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues its work.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463).
