State School Death Ruled a Homocide
By: Mitch Carr
Updated: August 21, 2009
The Lubbock County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Friday the June death of a Lubbock State School resident was a homicide.
Forty-five-year-old Michael Nicholson was found dead in his room in June. Six state school employees were fired in relation to that death.
Today, medical examiners released the official cause of death resulting from a physical altercation with asphyxiation. It appears the wounds on nicholson's body were consistent with a struggle.
It's now up to district attorneys as far as what charges will be filed and against whom.
"There's a number of different charges-- injury to a disabled person, criminally negligent homicide-- any number of charges that are possible, and, again, there is the possiblility that they wouldn't file any charges," Stevens said.
"They'll have to determine what is in the interest of justice based on their review."
Captain Stevens also said there's no real timeline for when charges might be filed.
