A Missouri man, Othel Moore, tragically died after being placed in a spit hood and restrained at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. The released prison video reveals disturbing details of the events leading up to Moore's death in December 2023.
The video footage shows Moore, a 38-year-old Black man, heaving with a mask covering his face, hands bound behind his back, and legs restrained as a guard observes from outside the cell. Former staffers at the prison have been charged with second-degree murder, with allegations that guards pepper-sprayed Moore, placed a mask over his face, and left him in a position that ultimately led to his suffocation.
Moore's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, and additional surveillance video provided by family lawyers depicts a distressing scene of incarcerated individuals stripped down to their boxers with their hands restrained. The video captures the moment when guards pepper-sprayed Moore and subsequently restrained him, leading to his eventual motionless state.
Despite Moore's lack of resistance, guards continued to restrain him, eventually wheeling him into a locked cell where he became unresponsive. A nurse arrived approximately 10 minutes after Moore went motionless, displaying a lack of urgency in attending to his condition. The video footage has sparked outrage, with Moore's family attorney condemning the prison staff's actions as a failure to provide adequate medical care.
In response to Moore's tragic death, ten staffers and contractor employees were terminated, and the Department of Corrections emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of individuals in their facilities. Body cameras are now implemented in all state maximum-security facilities to enhance transparency and accountability.
Several former staffers are facing second-degree murder charges related to Moore's death, with court appearances scheduled for January and a trial set for December. The case has raised concerns about the treatment of incarcerated individuals and the responsibility of prison staff to prioritize the wellbeing of those under their care.
