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James’ office filed a motion in Onondaga County Supreme Court requesting a special prosecutor in the death of Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, her office announced Thursday, March 6.
The court granted the motion, appointing Onondaga County DA William Fitzpatrick as special prosecutor.
James cited “internal conflicts,” given that her office represents state employees, including corrections officers, in legal matters related to their alleged conduct.
“When the corrections officers involved in the events preceding Mr. Nantwi’s death were identified, OSI confirmed that four of those corrections officers are defendants in other matters where they are or were represented by attorneys in OAG’s State Counsel Division,” James’ office said.
“The OSI is therefore recusing itself from further investigation of the events preceding Mr. Nantwi’s death and will hand over all records from its ongoing preliminary assessment of the matter to the District Attorney’s office immediately. “
Nantwi had been in custody since May 2024 and was serving a five-year sentence following a conviction for criminal possession of a weapon, according to state records.
He died Saturday, March 1, following an alleged beating at the hands of several corrections officers, as Daily Voice reported. An official cause of death had not been released as of Thursday.
Thomas Mailey, a prisons spokesman, declined to comment on the allegations in a statement to Daily Voice, but Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed that at her direction, 15 prisons employees were placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
“While the investigation into this incident is ongoing, early reports point to extremely disturbing conduct leading to Mr. Nantwi’s death and I am committed to accountability for all involved,” Hochul said. “The people of New York extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Nantwi's family and loved ones.”
The alleged killing came just days after several former corrections officers were charged with murder and manslaughter following the on-camera beating death of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility, located directly across the street, in December 2024.
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