The beatings of Messiah Nantwi began in his cell March 1 at the Mid-State Correctional Facility near Utica, New York. They continued in the prison’s infirmary, as he was lying handcuffed on the floor.
Five guards allegedly participated in the assault, two of whom have been charged with murder in Nantwi’s death. Two of their supervisors, who did nothing to stop the beating , also face criminal charges.
A cover-up followed, perpetrated by four other guards, states the indictment from Onondaga County grand jury, which labeled the alleged crimes a “depraved indifference to life.” False reports were filed, a makeshift knife was planted on the victim and evidence was destroyed when they cleaned up blood in Nantwi’s room.
According to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, Mid-State guards Jonah Levi and Caleb Blair are charged with “depraved mind murder.”…