SLIPKNOT's M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan Comments On Charges Against Iowa Doctor In Paul Gray's Death
September 5, 2012, 11 years ago
As previously reported, according to KCCI, a Des Moines doctor has been charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of several patients, including SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray.
When asked about the charges, Slipknot percussionist M. Shawn Crahan (better known as Clown) offered the following:
"None of it is going to bring back our brother Paul.""This epidemic of this sort of activity is becoming more and more evident. It truly is becoming a problem amongst people. And it trickles all the way down to the youth. And awareness needs to be brought about. Not only (about) substance abuse but the ability to acquire substances, to get chemicals and the efficiency of it.
Hopefully justice will be served."
The criminal complaints obtained by KCCI reveal investigators believe Dr. Daniel Baldi's prescription of highly addictive and highly dangerous pain medication contributed to the deaths in question.
Baldi's attorney Guy Cook refutes the charges and has entered a plea of not guilty. The doctor, who is now on a medical leave on absence to fight the charges, is being held on a bail of $16,000.
"He vigorously denies doing anything wrong. He has done his best to treat a very difficult patient population. These are patients who because of their chronic severe pain or chronic addictive situations can die regardless of the best medical care," said Cook.One of the eight patients was identified in court papers as Paul Gray, a founder of the band Slipknot. He died of an overdose at an Urbandale hotel in 2010.
According to court documents, Baldi unintentionally caused Gray's death by writing prescriptions narcotics to a "drug addict."
Baldi's preliminary hearing is set for September 15.
Check out a video report here.
