The Region - News from Oct. 7, 1986

Involuntary manslaughter charges were filed against a South-Cental Los Angeles dentist and a nurse anesthetist in the death of a 3-year-old boy who suffered a heart attack in the dental chair. Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner said Dr. Jacqueline Williams, 32, and Christine Lee, 40, were working at the Dr. Beauchamp Western Dental Center at 4364 S. Central Ave. on April 26, 1984, when the boy stopped breathing and went into a coma while under anesthesia. The youngster, Johnny Gray, died about a month later without regaining consciousness. Reiner said there was “a lack of care and constant monitoring of the boy’s vital signs” and the boy died “because of this lack of attention.” Both defendants are to be arraigned today in Los Angeles Municipal Court. Neither was available for comment.