Iowa Doctor Charged With Unintentionally Causing Death of Slipknot’s Paul Gray
Two years after the tragic passing of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, a major development related to his death has surfaced in the case of a Des Moines, Iowa, doctor charged today (Sept. 5) for involuntary manslaughter. Physician Daniel Baldi was busted for over-prescribing narcotic painkillers to his patients, with one of the eight victims being revealed as Paul Gray.
According to the Des Moines Register, the charging documents claim Baldi “did unintentionally cause the death of Paul Gray by the commission of an act likely to cause death or serious injury, to-wit, continually wrote high-dose prescription narcotics to a known drug addict from 12/27/2005 until his death.”
In basic terms, Baldi is being accused of playing a role in the death of Paul Gray. This is a stunning development in the case of the beloved musician, whose death was ruled an accidental overdose of morphine and fentanyl. The autopsy also showed that Gray had significant heart disease.
Gray was found dead at the age of 38 in a hotel in Urbandale, Iowa, on May 24, 2010. After a long break, Slipknot have soldiered on with bassist Donnie Steele filling in during the band’s live shows. After headlining the Mayhem Festival and a pair of Knotfest shows this summer, Slipknot are in the early stages of planning their first album since Gray’s untimely death.
As for Baldi, his lawyer claims that the charges against him are unprecedented in the state of Iowa. The physician faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted on the eight counts of involuntary manslaughter. We will follow this major story as it develops.