Fifteen staff members from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision have been identified as persons of interest in the investigation into the death of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi.
According to WSYR-TV, 12 of the staff members have been placed on administrative leave with pay, while three others have been suspended without pay.
Nantwi, an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility, died just 81 days after another inmate, Robert Brooks, died at Marcy Correctional Facility, located across the street. Brooks’ death also involved prison staff.
The cause of Nantwi’s death remains under investigation, but inmate reports to The New York Times have alleged that he was beaten by prison employees.
The investigation is ongoing.
