Medical examiner rules Irvo Otieno's death a homicide by asphyxia with restraints.
Irvo Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man who died last month at a Virginia mental hospital, was killed by "positional and mechanical asphyxia with restraints," according to the medical examiner's office. Seven deputies and three hospital workers have been charged with second-degree murder in Otieno's death. The local prosecutor who brought the charges has previously said in court that Otieno was smothered to death. Otieno's family and their attorneys have said he posed no danger to them and was simply trying to breathe.