BOISE, Idaho – The family of Lewiston, ID native, Milo Warnock, who was violently killed, has filed a tort claim against the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) and Centurion Health.
Warnock was killed in December of 2023 inside of his Kuna, ID jail cell. Warnock’s family says they were told by IDOC and Idaho State Police that he was killed by his cell mate, although NonStop Local has not been able to confirm that.
The tort claim seeks around $490,000. Hallie Johnson, Milo’s sister, said Wednesday that all of the money would go to Milo’s son, Mason, but the ultimate reason the family is suing IDOC and Centurion Health is to make change in prison system.
“Something really wrong happened. It is really wrong when someone is paying their debt to society and they’re killed in doing so,” Hallie Johnson said.
Milo was sentenced to two years in prison for a DUI. He blew a .11, according to the family. The legal limit in the State of Idaho is .08.
“He was not a bad person,” Johnson said.
Milo would later find himself in a maximum security cell, according to the Warnock’s. That is where his two year sentence would turn into a death sentence.
“It’s not like Milo was hit once and killed. I know that it was bad and someone should’ve been there to stop it,” Johnson said.
The tort claim states IDOC and Centurion Health “acted in a grossly negligent and reckless manner … Upon information and belief around the time Milo was killed the guards were at least thirty minutes late on their patrol.” NonStop Local has not been able to confirm that with IDOC.
“To my parents, this is really about not letting this be swept under the rug,” Johnson said. “This is something that we have to do for Milo, it’s something we have to do for other inmates. But really, justice for Milo is fixing this systemic issues within our system.”
NonStop Local’s John Webb asked Johnson Wednesday what her message to IDOC is. “Mistakes happen, but the entities or individuals where wrongdoing happened need to be accountable, and beyond accountability, we need change and I am happy to be a part of that,” Johnson told Webb.
NonStop Local reached out to IDOC and Centurion Health, but never heard back before publication.
