Audrain County reaches settlement with family of slain jail inmate

MEXICO, Mo. (STAFF AND WIRE)

The mother of a Mid-Missouri county jail inmate who died after another inmate attacked him for nearly 20 minutes has settled a lawsuit for $5 million.

Audrain County denied any negligence or fault in the agreement that was approved last month with the mother of Michael Dale Eisenhauer. He died in June while jailed on charges of first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

The mother's attorney, Jill Harper, said the attack lasted for 17 1/2 minutes, and she described it as “”gruesome and horrific."

Authorities said Ryan Blair, an inmate jailed on a third-degree assault charge at the time, killed Eisenhauer. Investigators said Blair admitted to planning and carrying out the murder, and that he had “specifically targeted” Eisenhauer.

Prosecutors charged Blair with first-degree murder. Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger said Friday that the case has been suspended pending a mental competency evaluation.

The attorney who represented the county in the lawsuit said he couldn't comment on the settlement. 

A third of the settlement will go toward attorneys' fees.