The family of Othel Moore released a new video Tuesday, Oct. 30, showing the last moments of his life before he died in a cell. Moore was incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri, passing away in December 2023.
“We are here because on December 8, 2023, a 38-year-old Black man was unjustifiably killed at the Jefferson City Correctional Facility,” Andrew Stroth, Moore’s family attorney, said at a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 29. “Last Thursday, October 24, we filed an amended 15-count federal civil rights complaint detailing this unjustified and brutal murder of Othel Moore.”
In the video, Moore is restrained with a spit mask covering his face, his hands behind his back and his legs bound together. He is placed in a small cell while guards look on from outside. He sat motionless for about 10 minutes before a nurse checked on him.
Four prison workers have pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder. Stroth claims the prison workers sprayed Moore with pepper spray and forced him into a position where he suffocated to death. He compares Moore’s death to that of George Floyd, saying prison workers and inmates witnessed Moore crying out, “I can’t breathe.”
“Thirty agonizing minutes of Othel in a dry room or dayroom struggling to breathe,” Stroth said. “Struggling to survive for over 30 minutes.”
Stroth also criticized the medical staff for their lack of urgency in helping Moore.
“The other very disturbing aspect of this case is the lack of care by Centurion Health,” he said. “The medical staff that on every step in this situation failed to protect and preserve and respect the sanctity of Othel’s health.”
Moore’s family has filed wrongful death lawsuits.
The prison released a statement in June saying the restraint used on Moore was “designed to prevent injury to himself and others” and that the department has since “discontinued use of the restraint system in which Moore was held.”
“We have taken and will continue to take steps necessary to mitigate safety risks to everyone in our facilities,” the statement read.
Prison guards told investigators that Moore was not listening to commands and was spitting at them. At the time of his death, Moore was serving a 30-year sentence for domestic assault, drug possession, robbery, armed criminal action and violence against a Department of Corrections inmate or employee.