Cadden, Chin Remain in Michigan

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

The two primary defendants in the criminal case stemming from a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak remain jailed in Michigan where they are facing 11 additional second degree murder charges.
Officials of the Michigan Attorney General's office say that Barry J. Cadden and Glenn Chin will be kept in the Livingston County jail in Howell until mid February when two days of hearings are scheduled on the second degree murder charges.
The two already are serving sentences in federal prison following their conviction on racketeering, mail fraud and conspiracy charges.
According to Michigan officials the two are being kept in Michigan to avoid the expense of transporting them back and forth to federal prisons in Pennsylvania where they have been serving their federal sentences.
Cadden has been serving a nine year sentence at the federal prison in Loretto, PA., while Chin has been serving an eight year sentence at the federal prison in Allenwood, PA.
They were brought to Michigan for a pre-trial hearing in November and are scheduled for appearances on Feb.13 and 14th in Livingston County District Court.
Assistant John Buck of the Michigan Attorney General's office said the continued hearings are being held to determine if there is probable cause to bring the two to trial on the second degree murder charges.
The two were charged in the deaths of Donna Kruzich; Paula Brent; Lyn Laperriere; Sally Roe; Mary Plettl; Gayle Gibson; Patricia Malafouris; Emma Todd; Jennie Barth; Ruth Madouse and Karine Baxter.
Cadden was president and part owner of the New England Compounding Center, the company that produced the contaminated steroids that cause the 2012 outbreak. Chin was the supervising pharmacist in the clean room where the tainted drugs were produced.
The November sessions marked the second time Cadden and Chin appeared in a Michigan court room. They both were present for an arraignment session in February, following which they were sent back to Pennsylvania.
Lawyers for the two had asked that they not be required to attend the February sessions but Judge Shauna Murphy ruled that both must be present.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com