A shocking case of excessive force and abuse has unfolded at the Mid-State Correctional Facility near Utica, New York, where an inmate, Messiah Nantwi, was brutally beaten to death by a group of correctional officers.
Five guards have been indicted, with two charged with murder, and others facing manslaughter charges for their role in the assault. The case has raised questions about the treatment of inmates and the accountability of prison staff.
The Tragic Events Leading to Messiah Nantwi’s Death
On March 1, 2023, the abuse of Messiah Nantwi began in his cell at Mid-State Correctional Facility. According to an indictment from the Onondaga County grand jury, the guards used excessive force to subdue Nantwi, who was allegedly resisting a prisoner headcount and interfering with another inmate.
Despite the situation being under control when the emergency response team arrived, the guards proceeded to beat Nantwi. The assault, which lasted for a significant period of time, included punches, baton strikes, and kicks, according to the prosecution.
The brutality continued as Nantwi was taken to the infirmary. Even after being transported, he was assaulted again in a stairwell and in the infirmary’s holding cell, where he was left unattended and not checked on.
The final blows to Nantwi’s head resulted in traumatic brain injuries and numerous other injuries to his body, which ultimately led to his death.
The Charges Against the Guards
Jonah Levi and Caleb Blair, two of the guards involved in the assault, have been charged with “depraved mind murder.” This charge does not suggest an intentional murder but rather an act so reckless and depraved that it resulted in Nantwi’s death.
Prosecutors argue that the guards’ actions demonstrated a complete disregard for human life, as they continued to beat Nantwi even after he was unresponsive.
Additionally, three other guards—Thomas Eck, Craig Klemick, and Daniel Burger—are facing first-degree manslaughter charges. Two supervisors, Francis Chandler and David Ferrone, are charged with second-degree manslaughter for failing to stop the assault while supervising the guards.
None of the guards involved were wearing mandated body cameras during the incident. In fact, witnesses to the assault either turned off their cameras or ignored the situation altogether.
This lack of accountability has been a major point of contention in the case, highlighting the need for greater oversight and transparency in prison facilities.
The Cover-Up and Attempted Tampering with Evidence
After Nantwi’s death, the guards allegedly engaged in a cover-up to conceal their actions. They planted a makeshift knife in Nantwi’s room, which had been confiscated in a separate incident, and filed false reports about the events leading to his death.
Ferrone, one of the supervisors, was caught discussing the planted weapon while unaware that his conversation was being recorded on a bodycam.
The cover-up was described as “amateurish and ineffective” by prosecutors, who highlighted the guards’ attempt to fabricate a story to shift blame. Despite the efforts to hide the truth, the investigation uncovered the guards’ actions, leading to the indictment.
Investigation and Legal Actions
The Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has vowed to seek justice for Nantwi, stating that the actions of the guards and their supervisors were an affront to human decency.
“This is a case of depraved indifference to life,” Fitzpatrick said. “We will seek the maximum penalties permitted by law to hold these individuals accountable.”
In addition to the charges against the guards, six other correctional officers have agreed to cooperate with the investigation. Two of them will plead guilty to felonies, while four will plead guilty to misdemeanors. The involvement of these officers has provided crucial testimony to support the charges against their colleagues.
Governor Kathy Hochul has also taken action, ordering the termination of the workers involved in Nantwi’s death. All 10 guards have either resigned or been suspended without pay, pending the outcome of the investigation and legal proceedings.
Background on Messiah Nantwi’s History
Nantwi, who was serving a five-year sentence for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon after a 2021 gunfire exchange with police, had a troubled history.
After being shot multiple times during the exchange, Nantwi was out on bail while negotiating a plea deal for the possession charge.
However, his plea deal was revoked following his involvement in two fatal shootings in Harlem in 2023, where he allegedly killed two men, Jaylen Duncan and Brandon Brunson. He had yet to be prosecuted for these crimes when he was sent back to prison to serve his sentence.
Nantwi’s death follows a similar incident at the nearby Marcy Correctional Facility, where six guards are facing charges in the beating death of inmate Robert Brooks.
These incidents have raised concerns about the conditions inside New York prisons, especially during a period of understaffing caused by a strike by prison guards over working conditions.