N.Y. State Police Investigate Death of Another Inmate at Upstate Prison
A 22-year-old inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, N.Y., died on Saturday, with multiple prisoners alleging he was brutally beaten by corrections officers. This marks the latest death in a series of alarming incidents within the New York State prison system.
State Police have launched an investigation, though officials have yet to disclose details about the inmate’s identity or the circumstances of his death. Nine prisoners interviewed by The New York Times—seven of whom agreed to be named—claimed the inmate was subjected to a violent assault by prison guards. These claims remain unverified, and corrections officials have stated that the matter is under review.
The incident comes just months after the December death of 43-year-old Robert Brooks at the nearby Marcy Correctional Facility. Ten officers were criminally charged in connection with his death, six of them facing murder charges after body camera footage reportedly showed them beating and choking Brooks in the infirmary.
Growing Crisis in the Prison System
This latest fatality coincides with a mounting crisis in New York’s prison system. Thousands of corrections officers have been engaged in unauthorized strikes for nearly three weeks, citing dangerous working conditions, staffing shortages, and excessive overtime. At least five inmate deaths have been reported since the strikes began, including one confirmed suicide.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed thousands of National Guard troops to replace striking officers, but tensions remain high.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Incident
According to the inmates interviewed, the 22-year-old prisoner was visibly distressed on Saturday morning as National Guard personnel prepared for a routine headcount. He reportedly retreated to a shower area, where he was heard crying. Witnesses claim he had recently stopped taking psychiatric medication.
When he refused to return to his cubicle, the National Guard alerted the prison’s Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT). Inmates allege that between seven and fifteen officers arrived, some wielding batons, and began beating the prisoner.
“He was screaming,” said Jordan McLin, 26, who was housed nearby. “I kept hearing ‘stop resisting,’ and at one point, you could just hear something being hit.”
Another inmate, Aaron Perry, 34, recalled the prisoner begging for mercy.
“He said, ‘I didn’t do anything. You’re really hurting me. Stop!’”
Prisoners claimed that some officers were not wearing body cameras, while others who had them appeared to have turned them off. A sergeant reportedly had a camera but was facing away from the altercation. National Guard members, who do not wear body cameras, allegedly stood by without intervening.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Following the altercation, witnesses say the inmate—bloodied and unrecognizable—was handcuffed, shackled, and dragged away. Some inmates reported seeing officers or medical personnel performing CPR on him inside an ambulance.
Inside the housing area, prisoners were allegedly ordered to clean up bloodstains. A mop and the deceased inmate’s belongings were removed, according to witnesses. Investigators arrived within hours to begin questioning.
“I fear for my life,” said Rodney Richards, 43, one of the inmates who spoke out. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next.”
The New York Attorney General’s Office has launched a preliminary review of the case, as state officials grapple with growing concerns over violence and unrest within the prison system.
