Four fired in death of Jefferson City prison inmate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Four prison workers have been fired after an internal investigation into the death of a 38-year-old man at Jefferson City Correctional Center.

Othel Moore, 38, died in the Jefferson City Correctional Center on Dec. 8, according to the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The Cole County Sheriff's Department is conducting an independent investigation into the death and an autopsy report is pending.

His family has asked for video and names of corrections officers in anticipation of a lawsuit. Moore's family members say he had complained of abuse for several years in the prison system.

Moore entered prison in 2005 and was serving a 30-year sentence for domestic assault, drug possession, robbery, armed criminal action and violence to a prison inmate or employee.

Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said all prison deaths are investigated.

According to data from the Missouri Justice Coalition, at least 134 people died in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections in 2023.