Jefferson City, MO — Five former corrections officers at a maximum security prison in Jefferson City are now facing serious charges including manslaughter and murder, stemming from the Dec. 8 death of an inmate, Othel Moore Jr., 39. These charges have intensified scrutiny on a prison system already under fire for a rise in inmate deaths over recent years.
The former officers, members of a Corrections Emergency Response Team specially trained to handle violent situations in prisons, allegedly escalated a routine cell search into a deadly confrontation. According to court documents, the incident has culminated in accusations against Justin Leggins, Jacob Case, Aaron Brown, Gregory Varner, and Bryanne Bradshaw, with varying degrees of involvement in the assault and wrongful death of Moore.
An inmate witness, Jordan Seller, 27, provided a firsthand account of the events that transpired, detailing how the situation rapidly deteriorated. Seller described a large group of officers storming the prison block, forcibly removing inmates from their cells, including Moore, who he claims was compliant yet treated as non-compliant by the officers.
According to Seller, Moore requested to be handcuffed in a way that wouldn’t exacerbate his shoulder pain, a request the officers ignored. Instead, they reportedly pepper-sprayed him, physically assaulted him, and used a shock glove, exacerbating Moore’s distress as he voiced his inability to breathe and his allergic reaction to the mace.
The response by the officers included the deployment of a spit mask and a heavily padded helmet on Moore as he struggled, blinded and suffocated by the mace. Seller, witnessing from his cell, believed he observed Moore’s final moments as his pleas for help became weaker.
Legal documents underline a critical narrative: despite the apparent lack of aggression or threat posed by Moore towards the responding officers, the physical measures used were excessive. The report from the Cole County Prosecuting Attorney noted that Moore was pepper-sprayed, restrained in a chair, and left in compromising positions that likely led to his asphyxiation.
This incident has spurred the Missouri Department of Corrections to discontinue the use of the restraint systems implicated in Moore’s death. They have further introduced body cameras at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, aiming to enhance accountability and prevent similar incidents.
The broader implications of this case reflect a troubling trend within the Missouri state prison system, where the annual number of deaths has risen sharply. From an average of 99 deaths from 2012 to 2019, the number climbed to an average of 128 deaths annually from 2020 to 2023. The surge in deaths occurs despite a decrease in the overall prison population, marking 2023 as one of the deadliest years in recent history.
The fallout from this incident has had far-reaching impact, leading to the termination of 10 individuals implicated in the incident, including the five charged officers. The public outcry has fueled discussions on systemic reforms and accountability in Missouri’s correctional facilities. Advocacy groups, like Missouri Prison Reform led by Lori Curry, insist that the increase in deaths is not only due to natural causes but also to issues like inadequate healthcare, increased drug use and overdoses, and staffing shortages which compromise inmate safety.
Amidst mounting legal pressure, including a federal civil lawsuit filed by Moore’s family against the officers involved and other prison staff, there is a growing demand for transparency and reforms in prison management policies to ensure safety and justice for inmates. The charged officers, with the exception of Bradshaw who posted bond, remain in custody as the legal proceedings continue.
This case, visibly echoing national concerns over law enforcement conduct and the treatment of incarcerated individuals, potentially marks a pivotal moment for correctional systems’ operations, sparking debates over the balance of authority, inmate rights, and institutional accountability.