Elmore, Alabama — Attorneys have initiated a federal wrongful death case for the family of Daniel Williams, a deceased Alabama state prison inmate, alleging he was brutally tortured and murdered by fellow inmates. The legal action implicates senior officials at Staton Correctional Facility, where the incident occurred, and targets systemic failures within the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Represented by the law firm Farris, Riley & Pitt, Williams’ family contends he died from a savage attack unaddressed by prison authorities on November 8, 2023. Included as defendants in the suit are the Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm, and three wardens from Staton Correctional Facility: Charles McKee, Charmelle Luckie, and Joseph Headley.
The family released a heartfelt statement expressing their profound grief and a plea for privacy as they navigate this challenging period, shedding light on the emotional toll the incident has taken.
Daniel Williams, only 22, was nearing the end of a one-year prison term for assault and theft convictions when he endured his fatal ordeal. Originally, his family was misled to believe his death resulted from a drug overdose, a claim starkly contradicted by his physical condition upon arrival at the hospital, where it became evident he had been physically restrained and severely assaulted.
Details from the lawsuit reveal a harrowing sequence of events starting October 19, asserting Williams was confined, drugged, and subjected to repeated beatings and sexual assaults over several days. By October 22, he was discovered unresponsive and critically injured, leading to his death on November 9, 2023.
The lawsuit further criticizes the prison management for its oversight of inmate Lamont Wilson, identified as a primary aggressor, despite his known violent history. Allegations include mismanagement in evaluating Wilson’s risk to other inmates and the improper mixing of violent and non-violent offenders, exacerbated by chronic understaffing and overcrowding, which the lawsuit suggests contributed to the failure in detecting Williams’ absence from his designated area sooner.
One critical point of contention in the suit is the decision to house Williams, with his non-violent criminal background, alongside more dangerous inmates, questioning the judgments that placed him in such peril.
The case has also brought up larger concerns about the safety measures within the Staton facility, suggesting that more rigorous checks and monitoring could have prevented this tragedy.
The family seeks significant damages for their loss, including punitive damages, which they hope will drive systemic reform within the state’s correctional facilities.
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