MORGANTOWN – A Maryland woman is suing the Monongalia County Commission claiming she was physically and sexually assaulted by convicted murderer Jonathan Ramirez while both were being transported to North Central Regional Jail.
In the suit filed Jan. 12 in Monongalia County Circuit Court, legal counsel for Janel Alicia Wyatt attests Wyatt turned herself in to the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office with an outstanding capias warrant on Jan. 17, 2024.
That same day, Ramirez was taken into custody and charged with 1st degree murder in connection to the stabbing death of Jacob Patrick Lough, which occurred the day prior on Milford Street, in Morgantown.
Ramirez has since been convicted and sentenced to life without parole for the killing.
According to the court filing, Wyatt and Ramirez were placed in the first and third row seats, respectively, of a transport van operated by an employee of the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, but neither was restrained with seatbelts or any other means that would restrict movement inside the vehicle.
The suit claims that while the van was stopped awaiting entry onto the North Central Regional Jail property, Ramirez left the third-row seat and approached Wyatt with his genitals exposed. It goes on to state that during the ensuing struggle, Ramirez was touching himself and trying to force Wyatt to touch him as he pinned her against the floor and door of the van and attempted to remove her pants.
The filing further states the transport officer’s only response during the approximately 45-second assault was to issue verbal commands. Further, Wyatt claims the officer then exited the van for approximately 40 additional seconds while the assault continued.
When the van door was opened, Wyatt exited and jail staff sprayed Ramirez with pepper spray and removed him from the vehicle.
Wyatt was then placed back in the van and transported to the closest emergency room, according to the lawsuit.
The suit also notes the transport officer apologized to Wyatt for not intervening sooner, explaining he didn’t know what to do, and that a subsequent internal investigation by the sheriff’s department determined the failure to secure Wyatt and Ramirez in the vehicle was a violation of department policy, ultimately resulting in counseling and a recommendation of further discipline for the officer.
Wyatt is suing the Monongalia County Commission, by and through its division, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, for negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and negligent supervision and/or failure to train.
The suit is seeking compensatory damages and general damages for past, present and future pain, suffering, mental anguish, permanent injury, annoyance, inconvenience, embarrassment and humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life and severe emotional distress; as well as attorney’s fees and any additional relief the court deems appropriate.
