Jefferson City prison death being investigated

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A death last week in a Jefferson City prison is being investigated by local authorities.

The Cole County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a 38-year-old man last Friday at Jefferson City Correctional Center. The department did not identify the inmate in a news release and said the Missouri Department of Corrections asked the sheriff to investigate.

Missouri Prison Reform on its Facebook page reported that the inmate was Othel Moore, claiming corrections officers suffocated him in a restraint despite his pleas for help. The group claims Moore was left alone in the restraints known as a "wrap" and medical help wasn't called for until long after his death.

The Missouri Justice Coalition said in a post that Moore, who was Black, was "murdered" by prison staff.

Moore was serving a 30-year sentence for domestic assault, drug possession and armed robbery out of St. Louis City.