Probe continues into freezing death of Alabama jail prisoner | The Excerpt
USA TODAY
Sheriff Nick Smith denies wrongdoing as investigators probe Tony Mitchell’s death. Mitchell died after being held in a cell known as “The Freezer.”
On the Monday, March 9, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast: Tony Mitchell died after being held in a concrete cell known as “The Freezer.” Alabama’s Walker County Jail Sheriff Nick Smith denies wrongdoing as investigators probe Mitchell’s death. USA TODAY National Extremism Correspondent Will Carless and USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Gina Barton join The Excerpt to discuss why Walker County jailers are now facing civil rights charges.
Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.
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Dana Taylor:
In Walker County, Alabama, several jailers are facing federal charges after the death of Tony Mitchell, who was held for nearly two weeks in a concrete cell known as the freezer at the Walker County Jail. The medical examiner says he froze to death. Meanwhile, Sheriff Nick Smith denies any wrongdoing and is seeking reelection. What happened to Tony Mitchell inside cell BK5?
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