Evidence in the search for the killer of a Prince George’s County jail inmate was brought before a grand jury Thursday as state and federal investigators continued to focus on three corrections employees who had the greatest opportunity to strangle a man suspected of murdering a county police officer, sources close to the investigation said.

Meanwhile, officials declined to speak Thursday on the death of Ronnie White, 19, wanting the attention to fall on the burial of Cpl. Richard Findley, whom White allegedly ran over with a stolen truck last week.

When asked if he thought too much attention had been given to White, County Executive Jack Johnson said, “That’s why I don’t want to talk about other events today. Today is a day we remember an officer who was killed.”

White was found dead in his isolated cell Sunday morning, and the medical examiner’s report said he was strangled to death. Sources said several inmates and guards likely had a good view of his cell during the 20-minute span in which he was killed.

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The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into the case, and the Maryland State Police have taken over the criminal investigation. State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey will lead the prosecution.

Earlier in the week, several corrections officials declined to meet with investigators, but after head of public safety Vernon Herron ordered them to cooperate Wednesday, at least one stepped forward, sources said.

A letter sent to corrections employees after Herron met with them said they could exercise their constitutional rights, but anyone failing to make themselves available to investigators “will result in the county taking whatever appropriate actions are available under the law.”

Sources say that could include suspension, although as of Wednesday no one had been suspended.

State Police spokesman Gregory Shipley said he couldn’t predict how long the investigation would take.

fklopott@dcexaminer.com