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Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has been appointed as a special prosecutor to investigate the death of Messiah Nantwi, an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, New York. The appointment was made after the New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) recused itself due to potential conflicts of interest.
Nantwi died on March 1, and the circumstances surrounding his death have not been publicly disclosed. However, Governor Kathy Hochul mentioned "extremely disturbing conduct" may have led to his death. The OSI stepped aside because four of the correction officers involved are defendants in unrelated matters, represented by the Attorney General’s State Counsel Division.
As reported by the Wayne County Journal, the OSI will transfer all records from its preliminary assessment to Fitzpatrick’s office. The Attorney General’s office emphasized that their recusal is not an indication of wrongdoing by any party.
This is not the first time Fitzpatrick has been appointed as a special prosecutor. He previously investigated the death of inmate Robert Brooks Sr. at Marcy Correctional Facility, located near Mid-State. Ten correction officers were charged in connection with Brooks' death.
CBS6 Albany reported that fifteen correction officers were placed on leave following Nantwi's death. Fitzpatrick has not commented on the current case, pending grand jury proceedings.