Doctor Charged in Death of Slipknot Bassist Paul Gray at Urbandale Hotel

A Des Moines doctor has been charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of several patients, including the 2010 death of Slipknot bassist Paul Gray at an Urbandale hotel.

The criminal complaints obtained by KCCI reveal investigators believe Dr. Daniel Baldi's prescription of highly addictive and highly dangerous pain medication contributed to the deaths, according to KCCI.com.

One of the eight patients was identified in court papers as Paul Gray, 38, a founder of the Grammy-winning band Slipknot and the group's bass player, the website said. He died of an overdose at an Urbandale hotel in 2010.

According to court documents, Baldi unintentionally caused Gray's death by writing prescriptions narcotics to a "drug addict."

Gray, of Johnston was found dead by an employee at , 8800 Northpark Drive in Urbandale, according to the Des Moines Register. 

Baldi's attorney Guy Cook has entered a plea of not guilty. The doctor, who is now on a medical leave of absence, is being held on $16,000 bail, the TV station reported.

"He vigorously denies doing anything wrong. He has done his best to treat a very difficult patient population," Cook told KCCI. "These are patients who because of their chronic severe pain or chronic addictive situations can die regardless of the best medical care."

Baldi's preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 15.