Chicago inmate racks up $1 million in medical bills after eating parts of jail, officials say

CHICAGO -- An inmate who is eating parts of the Cook County Jail is costing taxpayers $1 million, officials said.

Lamont Cathey, 17, has been unable to post his $5,000 bond since his arrest nearly 16 months ago.

The jail's director said Cathey began swallowing anything he could get his hands on, including screws, needles, pieces of metal and leather. As a result, he has needed more than $1 million in medical care.