Investigation into New York inmate’s death as 11 staffers placed on leave

• Authorities launched an investigation into the death of an inmate at a New York state prison and placed 11 corrections workers on leave as a result. 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi, an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy near Utica, died at a hospital on Saturday.
• Nine inmates, seven of whom gave their names, told The New York Times that corrections officers severely beat Nantwi.
• A prisons spokesperson said 11 staff members were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Full Story

Authorities launched an investigation into the death of an inmate at a New York state prison and placed 11 corrections workers on leave as a result.

What happened?

Police announced on Monday, Mar. 3, 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi, an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy near Utica, died at a hospital on Saturday, Mar. 1.

Nine inmates tell the New York Times that corrections officers severely beat Nantwi and described the account in graphic detail.

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How are New York officials responding?

A prisons spokesperson said 11 staff members were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation but did not reveal any details into the inmate’s death.

Attorney General Letitia James Office said it is “conducting a preliminary assessment on the matter.”

When asked about the investigation on Monday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul called it “deeply troubling” and said the death is “very much under investigation.”

Nonprofit groups are calling for the release of bodycam footage of the incident.

Inmates told The New York Times that some officers did not have body cameras and others turned theirs off.

Why is Nantwi’s death part of a possibly bigger problem?

Nantwi’s death comes nearly three months after another New York inmate, 43-year-old Robert Brooks died in December after authorities said correctional officers beat him at a separate prison facility in Marcy, across the street from Mid-State.

What was Nantwi serving time for?

Nantwi was serving a five-year prison sentence for a conviction on a criminal weapons possession charge and also was facing charges in connection with two murders.

Have other notable deaths occurred?

The latest prisoner death comes amid a staffing crisis at New York prisons. This is reportedly the seventh inmate death since thousands of corrections workers across dozens of state prisons walked off the job in unauthorized strikes on Feb. 17.