By Corrections1 Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — An Oklahoma nurse has been placed on administrative leave after witnesses said she performed an exorcism on a combative inmate at a county jail.
The Oklahoman reported that Linda Herlong Jackson, 67, has been banned from working at the Oklahoma County jail after she allegedly tried to “revoke the demons” out of Amanda Lynette Freeman, 32, who died the next day. Freeman was experiencing seizure-like activity at the time of the alleged exorcism.
Jackson was initially supposed to check Freeman’s vitals, but the inmate was thrashing around and behaving combatively. Jackson reportedly asked to perform the exorcism before a sheriff’s lieutenant arrived and stopped it. Freeman was found unresponsive the next day and died of an acute coronary event due to methamphetamine use.
Sheriff P.D. Taylor said that since Jackson doesn’t work directly with the sheriff’s office, he decided to ban her and reported her to the jail’s medical provider, Armor Correctional Health Services. She was placed on leave on Oct. 23.
Jackson has vehemently denied performing the exorcism and said she is a well-liked nurse.
A district attorney will determine if a criminal charge is warranted against Jackson.