Slipknot Paul Gray Death: Doctor Charged with Manslaughter for 'Handing Out' Narcotics

Paul Gray, former bassist for the popular metal band Slipknot, died of an overdose in May 2010 at the age of 38. Now, two years later, Daniel Baldi (the doctor who looked after Gray before his death) has been charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter. According to reports, Baldi prescribed a large amount of narcotic painkillers to Gray (who had been battling an ongoing problem with drugs) which helped to the musician's fatal overdose. Baldi is also accused of contributing to the death of seven other individuals.

According to Iowa state court documents, Baldi is accused of unintentionally influencing Gray's death by writing, "high dose prescription narcotics to a known drug addict" starting back in December 2005.

Charges were filed against Baldi by the Iowa Board of Medicine administration last month. Now Baldi faces four medical malpractice lawsuits, including three wrongful death suits. Five of the charges involved in the case involve the overdoses of admitted drug addicts.

The surviving members of Slipknot are outraged by Baldi's actions, and penned this message to fans:

"This new development has us all in a state of anger and sadness. The fact that this person took advantage of our brother's illness while he was in a position to help others has outraged everyone in our family. We can only hope that justice will be served so this can NEVER happen to anyone else ever again!" wrote the band in a statement.

Our thoughts go out to the families of the other victims. We plan to cooperate as much as we possibly can to ensure this tragedy is never repeated, and to make sure this man pays for what he has done."

Baldi's defense attorney Guy Cook says that they will fight the charges.