Attorneys for the family of Jefferson City prison inmate who died expect to file a lawsuit soon
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The attorneys for the family of Othel Moore, who died in the Jefferson City Correction Center back in December, are calling on the Missouri Department of Corrections to hand over its reports, video footage and names of staff involved in Moore's death.
The conference comes after four correction officers were fired Wednesday after an internal investigation was conducted into Moore's death. The names of the fired officers have not been released.
Attorneys for the family held a news conference Thursday. Civil Rights Attorney Larry Disparti said the Moore family is somewhat relieved with the action being taken, but is still devastated because it confirms their suspicions of mistreatment.
"These firings not only confirm what our investigation has already revealed, but also finally raises serious questions about inmate treatment and calls for systemic reform," Disparti said.
Disparti said they expect to file a lawsuit in a few weeks against the MoDOC, the Jefferson City Correctional Center and the individuals allegedly involved in Moore's death.
"Part of what we've been doing is trying to confirm a lot of these stories, facts, things that we've heard," Disparti said. "Now that we've gone through this investigation, we now feel good that we have enough to put into a complaint and get this lawsuit filed."
The founder and director of the Missouri Justice Coalition, ML Smith, said she thinks the four firings by the MoDOC was a necessary step, but she also wants the individuals involved to be charged.
She said going forward, there needs to be more oversight surrounding the MoDOC.
"It actually is a rarity, from my knowledge, that these people were fired for this," Smith said. "I think that with Mr. Moore's situation, it was such an uproar when it happened because it got out pretty quickly. Normally, things in our prisons that happen, the public doesn't know what's going on."
Data from the Missouri Justice Coalition shows at least 134 people died in the custody of the MoDOC in 2023.
Moore's family had previously said he complained for years about abuse and mistreatment from correctional officers. The family's attorneys said Thursday there's a pattern of abuse in the MoDOC.
"The Missouri Department of Corrections is a dangerous place, a very dangerous place for Black men like Othel Moore," civil rights attorney Andrew Stroth said.
Attorneys are asking for information related to Moore's death and said they have not received much if any cooperation from the MoDOC, including the names of staff who make up the MoDOC's emergency response team, known as CERT.
"While we are encouraged by the steps that have apparently been taken to discharge these rogue officers on this hit squad, so many answers remain outstanding," civil rights attorney Steven Hart said.
Missouri Prison Reform said CERT is known for extreme violence and aggression. It said it's hoping for even more accountability in Moore's case.
The Moore family attorneys say other inmates allegedly said this team pepper sprayed Moore and put him in a restraint. Attorneys said Moore was bleeding and said he couldn't breathe.
Separate from the MoDOC's internal investigation, the Cole County Sheriff's Office is also conducting an independent investigation and an autopsy report is pending. Sheriff John Wheeler said in an email he cannot comment on the open investigation, and an autopsy report can sometimes take up to six months.
A spokesperson for the MoDOC said Thursday the department has handed materials over to local law enforcement but will not share any details with the public at this time.
According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, 38-year-old Moore died on Dec. 8. He was serving a 30-year sentence for charges of domestic assault, drug possession, robbery, armed criminal action and violence to a prison inmate or employee.
Attorneys read a statement from Moore's sister, Oriel Moore, who said she didn't lose an inmate, but her best friend.
