Death threats follow reports of prison abuse

Associated Press

August 18, 2004

Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan, the former head of the interrogation center at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, leaves a military court at Fort Meade Tuesday after day two of his Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury investigation. (AP photo / October 17, 2006)

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - The Army reservist who tipped off investigators to abuse of Iraqi prisoners by his fellow soldiers is in protective military custody because of death threats, family members said yesterday.

Spc. Joseph M. Darby, 24, received the threats after his role in the scandal was publicly revealed in May, his sister-in-law, Maxine Carroll, said.

Carroll said in a telephone interview from her home in Windber, Pa., that she doesn't know where Darby is, and she refused to put a reporter in touch with his wife, Bernadette, who is Carroll's sister.

Darby testified by telephone Aug. 6 at a pretrial hearing for Pfc. Lynndie England. He said he agonized over whether to turn in photos of his fellow soldiers' acts but ultimately did so because he feared the mistreatment would continue.

On Monday, Carroll appeared on ABC's Good Morning America with Bernadette Darby, who said she was surprised by the vicious response of some friends and neighbors.