Inmate with dairy allergy dies after eating oatmeal
EVERETT, Wash. -- Rose Saffioti was sure she was doing the right thing when she encouraged her son to turn himself over to police.
An arrest warrant for Michael Saffioti had been issued after he missed a court date. But after one night in jail, he was dead.
Now Snohomish County could face a lawsuit over a food allergy that may have been ignored.
Michael Saffioti knew dairy could kill him. He grew up reading labels and carrying medication, and still suffered severe reactions whenever he was merely near dairy protein. The stress made him anxious to the point of needing medication.
"Ultimately, he found and thought he was better functioning using marijuana," said his mother.
Michael did not have a medical marijuana prescription, and his use put him in and out of the legal system. In the most recent incident, he and his mother went to police, armed with his medical history after he had missed a court date.
"I wanted Michael held accountable for his legal issues and I insisted on it. But I didn't want him to die," said Rose.
After eating oatmeal in jail, Michael couldn't breathe. Other inmates say Michael begged for help and was accused of faking it. The autopsy found his severe reaction to milk products contributed to his death.
"You can't get help. You can't call 911. You're at their complete mercy," said Anne Bremner, an attorney representing the Saffioti family. "When the jail's the one that gives you something that's going to kill you -- that they know is going to kill you -- they, at a minimum, have to rescue you. And they didn't."
The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said it would not comment on what happened or on the potential lawsuit until its investigation is complete.
In the meantime, Michael's mother is wearing his ring as a symbol of her quest for answers.
"This reminds me every day what I have to do for Michael," she said. "I know there's a period where he knew he was going to die. And he trusted me. Everything was supposed to be set up, that he'd be taken care of."
Rose said she will sue the county, but her first goal is to hold someone criminally responsible.
She and her attorney will encourage the prosecutor's office to file involuntary manslaughter charges against jail workers whom they believe should have prevented Michael's death.
An arrest warrant for Michael Saffioti had been issued after he missed a court date. But after one night in jail, he was dead.
Now Snohomish County could face a lawsuit over a food allergy that may have been ignored.
Michael Saffioti knew dairy could kill him. He grew up reading labels and carrying medication, and still suffered severe reactions whenever he was merely near dairy protein. The stress made him anxious to the point of needing medication.
"Ultimately, he found and thought he was better functioning using marijuana," said his mother.
Michael did not have a medical marijuana prescription, and his use put him in and out of the legal system. In the most recent incident, he and his mother went to police, armed with his medical history after he had missed a court date.
"I wanted Michael held accountable for his legal issues and I insisted on it. But I didn't want him to die," said Rose.
After eating oatmeal in jail, Michael couldn't breathe. Other inmates say Michael begged for help and was accused of faking it. The autopsy found his severe reaction to milk products contributed to his death.
"You can't get help. You can't call 911. You're at their complete mercy," said Anne Bremner, an attorney representing the Saffioti family. "When the jail's the one that gives you something that's going to kill you -- that they know is going to kill you -- they, at a minimum, have to rescue you. And they didn't."
The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said it would not comment on what happened or on the potential lawsuit until its investigation is complete.
In the meantime, Michael's mother is wearing his ring as a symbol of her quest for answers.
"This reminds me every day what I have to do for Michael," she said. "I know there's a period where he knew he was going to die. And he trusted me. Everything was supposed to be set up, that he'd be taken care of."
Rose said she will sue the county, but her first goal is to hold someone criminally responsible.
She and her attorney will encourage the prosecutor's office to file involuntary manslaughter charges against jail workers whom they believe should have prevented Michael's death.
This is why Jailing people for non-violent crimes should be against the law. Marijuana Prohibition is wrong and this is just another example of the unintended consequences of the drug war.
 @EndtheDrugWar Of course so called "sin" crimes should be legal... but not jailing people for property crime? =/ Seriously?
Oatmeal is not straight forward. Not all oatmeal has diary. When you have a food allergy, you have to read every label because all products are made differently and when someone else is preparing food, you have no idea how they are preparing it, so it is critical that they know a food allergy is present, how to handle the food preparation, and then execute the proper plan, including serving the person. I am sure in jail, with a large population of people, it would be difficult to monitor special meals. If the staff at the prison is not trained on how to handle food allergies and reactions- it will always be deadly and always be a problem. This could happen to anyone, anywhere. I am sure this young man was likely not given the choice to read food labels or talk to the kitchen staff to make sure he could safely eat the oatmeal. It is important for any facility serving food to be educated on food allergens and intolerances and have a plan and policy on how to handle them, prisons are not exempt from this. I say that, and yet I wish it was the child molester who had a food allergy and died and not this guy. Sorry for expressing personal feelings.Â
 @Lara Holland I'm pretty much guessing this wasn't the first food allergy the jail staff had to deal with in all these decades of handling prisoners. Obviously, procedures weren't followed and a prisoner died. Not a violent, career criminal...this guy broke the law by trying to self-medicate/treat the anxiety/fear of having to deal with the very same food allergy that the jail staff killed him with.
He broke the law, ended up in jail. His death is a tragic thing for his family. Why did he eat the oatmeal? He obviously was very aware of his problem and knew what he could consume. Why did he eat the oatmeal if he knew it would kill him. Was he forced to eat the oatmeal? I feel sorry for his mother.
 @souptonuts It sounds as though his mother made sure the prison staff knew of Michael's food allergy. Why did he eat the oatmeal? Why do you assume he knew it would kill him? I'm guessing he thought (hoped) it was safe because the staff was made aware of his milk allergy and he was probably very hungry. All any of us can do is guess or assume since we don't have all the facts.
Heartbreaking. I hope the family gets justice.Â
the Sheriff is responsible and should be held criminally accountable....jail him...general population....NO MERCY !!
Cancel the drug war