The family of a prisoner who died in a Missouri prison said that the man was “brutally killed” by members of the correctional facility in a lawsuit.

The family of Othel Moore Jr. have raised a lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Correction and the Jefferson City Correctional Facility after the 38-year-old died in Jefferson City on December 8, 2023.

The family’s lawsuit writes that Moore Jr. was “brutally restrained and mummified” by the defendants, named as being members of the correction center’s emergency response team.

It adds that they “ignored his struggle to breathe, and left him to slowly and painfully suffocate.”

According to the lawsuit, the prisoner, who was Black, was pepper-sprayed and shocked by a type of glove used in prisons by officers to help with inmate compliance.

He was also reportedly restrained, and given a spit hood—which prevents a person from being able to spit—as well as a helmet and leg wraps.

He was then allegedly confined to a restraint cart and isolated in a small, enclosed space known as a dry cell, the lawsuit adds.

It continues that Moore Jr. had said repeatedly that he was unable to breathe, and accuses the defendants of ignoring his pleas.

The lawsuit writes that Moore Jr. was “left to die alone in a cell, deprived of the basic dignity of medical care and human attention. Moore should not have died. He just needed someone to care about him.”

It also alleges that Moore Jr.’s death was not “an isolated incident, but rather the product of a systematic pattern of coercion, brutality, intimidation, reckless disregard and deliberate indifference fostered the Missouri Department of Corrections’ highest-ranking officials.”

It was reported in the lawsuit that these events were recorded on video and “witnessed by many.” The lawsuit was filed on October 24.

In the video released by the family, guards are seen holding Moore Jr.’s arms as he kneeled on the floor and lay face down.

They then bound his legs, covered his face and strapped him into a cart. Moore Jr. did not appear to struggle with the guards.

Moore’s movements gradually slowed until he became motionless. It was 10 minutes later a nurse went to check on him and found him dead.

“This graphic video evidence shows the unjustified and brutal murder of Othel Moore, a 38-year-old Black man, by correctional officers at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. This is one of the most egregious prison death cases in America,” attorney Andrew M. Stroth, managing director of Action Injury Law Group, a Chicago -based civil rights law firm, told Newsweek.

In a statement released by the Missouri Department of Corrections, the center said that Moore Jr. died while “in a restraint system designed to prevent injury to himself and others.”

The department has reportedly stopped the use of the restraint system Moore was held in since the incident of his death.

In the update shared in June 2024, the correction center reported that Cole County Prosecuting Attorney had pressed felony charges against five former corrections staff members in connection with Moore’s death.

In total, ten people were reportedly involved in the incident, and those individuals are allegedly no longer employed by the department or its contractors, the report added.

Per the Missouri Department of Corrections report, Moore was serving a 30-year sentence for convictions of second-degree domestic assault, possession of a controlled substance, two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of armed criminal action, and violence to an inmate or employee of the Department of Corrections.

Newsweek has contacted the Missouri Department of Corrections via email for comment.

Update 10/31/24, 2:22 p.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from attorney Andrew M. Stroth.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s basketball team kicked off their season with a commanding win against Missouri Western, 110-55 in an exhibition at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday night. It was head coach Jan Jensen’s first game at the helm.

The Hawkeyes jumped to an early lead, ending the first quarter with a 33-14 advantage. Key contributions came from Stuelke, who scored seven points in the first quarter alone, followed by Olsen with six, and Feuerbach, who added three points and three rebounds.

The second quarter saw Iowa continue to dominate, extending their lead to 57-26 by halftime. Olsen scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in the first half. The Hawkeyes’ defense was equally impressive, forcing six turnovers and limiting Missouri Western’s scoring to 12 points in the second period. Iowa allowed one two point field in the first 20 minutes of action.

The second half was more of the same as Iowa maintained their intensity. The third quarter ended with Iowa leading 84-42, thanks to a strong performance from Mallegni, who scored 9 points in the quarter. The Hawkeyes’ bench also played a significant role, contributing 48 points overall.

In the final quarter, Iowa continued to apply pressure, closing out the game with a 26-13 run. The Hawkeyes shot 83.9 percent from the line with all available players contributing to the stat sheet. Senior Addison O’Grady added eight points and two rebounds, and Taylor McCabe downed two threes tallying eight points and four assists in her first career start.

POSTGAME NOTES
– Junior Hannah Stuelke recorded 18 points, a team-high seven free throws, and five rebounds.
– Lucy Olsen dished out a team-best six assists and scored 14 points in her debut as a Hawkeye.
– Freshmen Ava Heiden, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow combined for 34 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists.
– Stremlow led the Hawkeyes with nine rebounds.
– Mallegni shot 50 percent from deep (4-9) and netted 18 points.
– Kylie Feuerbach scored 14 on 5-of-7 from the field and recorded seven rebounds and two steals.
– Iowa had five players register double figures. (Feuerbach, Heiden, Olsen, Mallegni and Stuelke)
– Tonight’s game marks the second exhibition sellout in Iowa women’s basketball history. (14,998)
– It is the largest crowd in program history for an exhibition game.
– Iowa is 2-0 all-time in exhibitions against Missouri Western. (2007)
– The Hawkeye defense held Missouri Western scoreless for the last 3:40 of the first quarter. Iowa went on a 13-0 run during that span making 7-of-9 field goal attempts.
– Seven different Hawkeyes scored in the first period.
– Iowa shot 40 percent (4-10) from three-point land in the first quarter.
– Olsen was the only player in double figures at halftime with 11 points, four assists, and four rebounds.
– UI led 57-26, at the break connecting on nine 3-pointers. (9-20)
– Six players had six or more points at halftime.
– Tonight’s contest never saw a tie or lead change, the Hawkeyes were in control for all 40 minutes.
– Iowa had 20 assists on 36 field goals.
– The Hawkeyes held Missouri Western to 24.2 percent from the field in the first half. (8-33)
– Iowa allowed one two-point field goal in the first 20 minutes of action.
– All active players scored in the game.

QUOTING SUE P. BECKWITH, MD, HEAD COACH JAN JENSEN
“I worked with the best in my opinion—not just the best coach, but the best person. I am grateful to have a team that did what they should’ve done tonight. It’ll be a different feeling when the games count, and when we start playing our caliber of players, but I’m grateful to have this win. Personally, it’s huge, and it’s everything I wanted so many years ago. Thanks to my great boss, Beth Goetz, and Barbara Wilson. I’m so thankful, and the players did such a great job tonight.”

FOLLOW US
Make sure to follow Iowa women’s basketball on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@IowaWBB) for news and updates all season long.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes open the regular season Nov. 6, hosting Northern Illinois at 6:30 p.m. (CT). The contest will stream on B1G+ (subscription required) and the Hawkeye Radio Network.

MISSOURI CITY, Texas – The Missouri City police officer who was involved in a crash that killed a mother and son has now been indicted for his fault in the collision.

The family filed civil lawsuits against the city of Missouri and its police department in July for the deaths of Angela Stewart and her 16-year-old son, Mason Stewart in June.

On Wednesday, the former Missouri City police officer, 27-year-old Blademir Viveros, was indicted for manslaughter in connection with a crash that claimed the lives of the Stewarts.

BACKGROUND: Former Missouri City officer indicted for manslaughter following crash that killed mother and son

The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the manslaughter charges following a grand jury’s decision.

Lawsuit details of crash

According to the lawsuit, Angela Stewart and Mason Stewart died because of the negligence and gross negligence of Vivero of the Missouri City Police Department.

On June 20, Angela and Mason Stewart were exiting the parking lot of the Dollar Tree store, located at 1681 Cartwright Road, at around 8:45 p.m.

READ: Mother, 16-year-old son killed in crash involving Missouri City PD officer have been identified

Upon exiting the parking lot, the vehicle the Stewarts were traveling in was struck by Viveros, who was in a 2021 marked Missouri City Police SUV.

The lawsuit states that Viveros was negligently traveling at a high rate of speed, above the posted legal speed limit, and without emergency lights or sirens on. Because of his high speed, the impact of the collision reportedly caused the destroyed vehicles ended up roughly 300 feet away from the point of impact.

‘A cop killed him’: Family shares emotional response after mother, son were killed by Missouri City PD officer

As a result of the collision, Angela and Mason died.

READ: Robbery suspect arrested by Houston PD may also be linked to Missouri City chase that resulted in mother and son’s death

Read the full lawsuit below: