Inset: Earl Moore Jr. (Facebook). Background: News footage shows Peter Cadigan in court for his June 23 sentencing (WAND).
A former Illinois emergency medical technician who admitted his role in a patient’s death will not serve additional jail time.
Peter Cadigan, 53, was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2022 death of Earl Moore Jr., 35. Cadigan and Peggy Finley, 48, had initially been charged with first-degree murder after prosecutors alleged they secured Moore facedown on a gurney, leading to his suffocation. As Law&Crime previously reported, Moore was experiencing hallucinations while detoxing from alcohol when Cadigan and Finley, who were working as EMTs for LifeStar ambulance service, responded to his Springfield, Illinois, home on Dec. 18, 2022.
According to prosecutors, after police officers placed Moore on the gurney, Finley and Cadigan “tightened restraints across Earl Moore, Jr.’s back and lower body in the prone position.” Moore, who was transported to the hospital while lying facedown and unable to move, died from “compressional and positional asphyxia.” Authorities noted that both former EMTs had extensive experience in emergency medical services.
In body camera footage obtained by Law&Crime, officers can be seen escorting Moore from his home to a gurney outside. The officers lift him onto it, where he lands on his side. Cadigan then turns Moore facedown before securing him with straps. Finley is seen putting a blanket over Moore as she and Cadigan continue restraining him.
Cadigan entered his guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter in April. At Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, he received 24 months of probation and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. The judge also barred him from working in the healthcare field. Cadigan was credited with 180 days already served in county jail.
Finley’s criminal case remains pending. Her trial has been continued until Aug. 24.
