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Death toll sets new records amid staffing crisis at Georgia prisons
Editor’s note: This story has been updated throughout to include additional deaths and recent findings about how prisoners died.
Sixteen prisoners were involved in a melee at Macon State Prison a year ago, with a dozen injured. One man died: Sabino Ramos.
At Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in June, a fight involving eight prisoners resulted in the death of Carrell Johnson and injuries to at least three other men. At Smith State Prison last year, eight men, including a correctional officer, were homicide victims, the most of any Georgia prison.
By year’s end, at least 37 men were victims of homicides in the prison system, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution examination found. That is up from the previous year’s record of 31 homicides. And it brings the tally of the homicides in the past three years to 98, more than triple the number who died from 2017 through 2019.
But, the count may not be complete. The deaths of 10 other prisoners last year are still pending investigation by medical examiners.
Many of the 37 deaths were gang-related, according to Georgia Department of Corrections incident data obtained by the AJC. The department has blamed the nature of those inside its prisons for the violence. “Our staff work in the most dangerous ‘communities’ in Georgia,” the GDC told the AJC last year.
However, many family members of those who have died say the state isn’t doing what it should to protect those in its system. Among those blaming the GDC is the family of Charles “Tristen” McKee, who was murdered at Hancock State Prison in 2022. He was a target for gang violence because he had a history of mental illness and suicide attempts and identified as LGBTQ and transgender, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.
“He was tortured for seven years,” said Lisa Spradlin, McKee’s mother.
Incarcerated at 17 for arson and theft, McKee was stabbed in the eye within a week of arriving in prison, just the first of many stabbings he suffered. In the last one, in May 2022, he died in an attack by gang members described in the lawsuit as a bloodbath. Members of the Bloods and Gangster Disciples allegedly stabbed McKee 12 times, according to the suit. He was 24.
Spradlin said she had worked for years as a correctional officer in a men’s prison in West Virginia. She found the conditions in Georgia’s prisons appalling. “My son’s life meant nothing to them,” she said.
According to the lawsuit, the prison was dramatically understaffed at the time, and officers did not show up until 45 minutes after the attack.
The GDC apparently did see a significant drop in suicides last year, with 32 confirmed so far. That followed a record 43 in 2022.
These are the known homicides and suicides from 2020 through 2023. The AJC verified the deaths and related information using information from the GDC, death certificates and published obituaries.
Research shows that news reporting on suicide can influence individuals who may be considering harming themselves. For that reason, names and details of prisoners who died by suicide are not included.
Augusta State Medical Prison
Eddie Gosier, 39; May 2, 2020, ligature strangulation. He died just hours after an inmate with a particularly violent history was moved by guards into his cell. Gosier’s killer, Daniel Luke Ferguson, had previously strangled to death an inmate at Hays State Prison after being sentenced to life in prison when he was 18 for the shooting death of a neighbor in Walton County.
Thomas Henry Giles, 31; Oct. 28, 2020, inhalation of products of combustion; he was left in his smoke-filled cell for hours
Terry Lee Bennett II, 43; Jan. 10, 2021, blunt impact to the head
Ali Lamont Tanner, 45; July 2, 2021, stabbed
William Taylor Bodge, 61; Feb. 5, 2022, delayed complications of blunt force injuries
Raphael Zachery Milligan, 41; July 21, 2022, blunt force injuries and strangulation
Amos Bennett Huff Jr., 60; March 30, 2023, strangled
• Number of suicides: 14
Autry State Prison*
• Number of suicides: 1
*Prison was closed in 2022
Baldwin State Prison
Joshua Emanuel Williams, 22; July 3, 2020, multiple sharp-force injuries
Jose Martin Ibarra Garcia, 41; June 15, 2021, multiple stab wounds to the head
Edward Jamar McCloud, 40; July 23, 2021, sharp-force injury to the neck
Jamari McClinton, 21; Aug. 11, 2021, stabbed. He was slain just five days after being transferred from Phillips State Prison, where he had been in protective custody after threats from gang members. Protection was removed when he was transferred.
Bedarius Clark, 26; Aug. 21, 2021, homicide, certificate not in. He was found unresponsive in the prison’s segregation unit. GDC described the death as an assault
Fredrick Louis Spears Jr., 27; May 2, 2023, stab wound of the torso
Johnny Vaughn, 39; Oct. 4, 2023, cause not reported. Certificate not in. GDC said he died after a fight involving multiple inmates.
• Number of suicides: 5
Burruss Correctional Training Center
• Number of suicides: 1
Calhoun State Prison
Martel Dorsey, 34; Oct. 4, 2023. Homicide, death certificate not in.
• Number of suicides: 1
Central State Prison
Joshua Carl-Haynes Lester, 34; July 28, 2021, stab wound to the chest
Hollis Bryant, 28; Dec. 17, 2023. Homicide, death certificate not in
Marquis L. Johnson, 26; Dec. 28, 2023, stab wound of the chest
• Number of suicides: 3
Coastal State Prison
Kion E. Parks, 31; Sept. 14, 2021, stabbed. Incident report shows five other inmates were involved in the incident.
Rufus Ramon Lee, 27; Dec. 14, 2021, stab wound of the chest. Incident report shows four other inmates were involved in the incident.
Salomon Ramirez, 43; Oct. 20, 2023, apparent homicide. Cause not stated. Certificate not available.
• Number of suicides: 3
Coffee Correctional Facility
Kendall Ja’Mal Cromer, 31; Nov. 30, 2020, stab wound of the neck and chest. Incident report shows four other inmates were involved.
Hendricks Riley Gunn, 42; Jan. 1, 2022, blunt force injuries of head and neck
• Number of suicides: 3
Dodge State Prison
Douglas Anthony Forts, 57; June 2, 2022, acute traumatic amputation of finger during fight
Hezekiah Sha’Nard Cuyler, 21; Sept. 14, 2022, stabbing
• Number of suicides: 1
Dooly State Prison
Dimitri Merci Jackson, 36; Jan. 3, 2023, stab wound of the chest
Chad Roadifer, 45; Oct. 27, 2023, delayed complications of blunt force head trauma
• Number of suicides: 5
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison
Daniel Charriez, 46; Feb. 23, 2022, delayed complications of traumatic brain injury, four months interval
Boyd Henry Williams, 64; Oct. 3, 2022, manual strangulation, blunt force trauma to head
Elmer Pless, 65; May 15, 2023, strangulation
Carrell Beontae Johnson, 32; June 6, 2023, chopping injuries of the head and sharp-force injuries of the torso
• Number of suicides: 11
Georgia State Prison*
Raul Bailon Garcia, 39; April 21, 2020, positional asphyxia and suffocation due to assault, blunt trauma to soft tissues
Joctavious Artez Newsome, 25; Nov. 4, 2020, stab wound
Demetrius Stubbins, 38; Dec. 21, 2020, stab wound to the chest
Christopher Dewayne Mathis, 37; Feb. 26, 2021, blunt force trauma to head
Christopher D’Corro Ward, 29; May 25, 2021, carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation/methamphetamine toxicity. Incident report shows fire.
Fabian Garcia-Mata, 27; Sept. 10, 2021, multiple stab wounds
Troy Donald Harvey, 34; Sept. 12, 2021, stab wound of the chest
• Number of suicides: 13
*Prison was closed in early 2022.
Hancock State Prison
Cesar Arnold Pastrana Morales, 33; March13, 2020, stab wound of the chest. Incident report shows five other inmates involved in the incident.
Rashad Bolton, 29; Jan. 4, 2021, puncture wound to the chest with sharp object
Dwayne Zackery Jr., 22; Feb. 12, 2021, stab wound to the chest with homemade knife
Charles Tristen James McKee, 24; May 23, 2022, stabbed. Incident report shows five other inmates directly involved. A lawsuit alleges he was placed in a dorm with known gang members who were hostile to LGBTQ inmates.
Terry Lee Bishop, 49; Oct. 18, 2022, blunt force trauma, acute toxicity of methamphetamine, acute toxicity of cannabinoids
Norman Samples, 59; Dec. 27, 2022, blunt force injuries of the head and torso
Roland Lamont Phillips, 33; June 28, 2023, multiple sharp-force injuries
Francisco Melgar-Saldivar, 23; Aug. 12, 2023, strangulation and blunt force injuries
• Number of suicides: 2
Hays State Prison
Anthony L. McGhee Jr., 34; March 29, 2020, complications of blunt-force head trauma and sharp-force trauma of torso and extremities
Jorge Renberto Ventura-Cabrera, 35; June 5, 2021, stab wounds of neck, torso and upper extremities. Incident report shows two other inmates involved.
Quintez Smith, 25; Aug. 29, 2022, multiple sharp-force injuries
Talore Blackford, 31; Oct. 27, 2023, multiple stab wounds of the neck
• Number of suicides: 5
Jefferson County Correctional Institution
• Number of suicides: 1
Jenkins Correctional Facility
• Number of suicides: 1
Johnson State Prison
Jerry Lee Brown, 61; Nov. 12, 2020, stab wounds to the head, blunt-force injury to face
David Lamar Henegar, 44; Oct. 16, 2021, manual strangulation and blunt-force injuries of the head, torso and extremities
Michael Page, 53; June 29, 2023, homicide. Cause not stated. Certificate not in.
Donald Prescott Lee, 41; Nov. 16, 2023, blunt force trauma to the head, neck and torso
• Number of suicides: 5
Lee State Prison
• Number of suicides: 1
Lee Arrendale State Prison
Angela Anderson, 39; Sept. 11, 2022, asphyxia due to neck and chest compression
• Number of suicides: 1
Macon State Prison
Johnny Eugene Young, 24; Jan. 27, 2020, sharp-force injury of mouth/tongue
Rafael Blas Becerra, 36; March 7, 2020, stab wounds to the upper torso. Incident report shows seven other inmates involved, with six injured.
Carrington Juwon Frye, 23; March 20, 2020, stab wounds of the neck and chest. Incident report shows two other inmates involved.
David Travis Alexander Dennis, 35; May 13, 2020, multiple sharp-force injuries
Coty Dustin Silvers, 39; May 23, 2020, asphyxia
Bobby Edward Lee Jr., 38; July 13, 2020, ligature strangulation. A federal lawsuit alleges he died from gang violence, understaffing, and indifference by prison officials.
Robbie B. Brower, 58; Oct. 4, 2020, blunt and sharp-force injuries to the head and neck
Raul Villegas, 37; Dec. 13, 2020, stab wound to the torso. Incident report shows three other inmates involved.
Carlos Maurice Fisher Jr., 30; May 10, 2021, multiple sharp-force injuries
Ryan Weston Darville, 37; Dec. 29, 2021, stab wounds of the chest
Joseph Walter Brown, 36; July 26, 2022, multiple stab wounds
Dan Brooks, 50; Aug. 21, 2022, stab wound of the neck
Kendrick Malik Brown, 25; Oct. 16, 2022, blunt-force head injury
James Cornelius McLeroy III, 26; Dec. 19, 2022, stab wounds of the torso
Sabino Carlos Ramos, 34; March 22, 2023, multiple stab wounds
Kevin Deshawn Lamar, 44; Aug. 10, 2023, sharp force chest trauma
Taurean Hardy, 41, Dec. 10, 2023, homicide. Death certificate not in.
• Number of suicides: 3
Patten Probation Detention Center
• Number of suicides: 1
Phillips State Prison
Dave Stone, 61; Nov. 20, 2021, closed head trauma, delayed effects
Jamal Cymonne Johnson, 32; June 11, 2022, stab wounds of the head
Sidney Sanchez Nealey, 22; July 18, 2022, stab wounds of the torso
Jacob Kendall Daniels, 18; Aug. 13, 2022, stab wound of the neck, shoulder and arm
Quafabian Melik McBride, 19; Sept. 30, 2022, stab wound of chest, injuring heart; sharp-force injuries of head, torso and upper extremities. Stabbing occurred during a gang-related fight in the lockdown unit. McBride was housed elsewhere in the prison and had been brought to lockdown that day through the arrangements of officers.
Alim Rasheed Lovett, 33; Dec. 8, 2022, stab wounds of the back, injuring right lung. Also sharp-force injuries of the head, torso and right thigh. Incident report shows four other offenders involved.
Arthur James Wimbush Jr., 46; April 2, 2023. Blunt-force trauma with fracture of thyroid cartilage
• Number of suicides: 3
Pulaski State Prison
• Number of suicides: 2
Rogers State Prison
• Number of suicides: 2
Rutledge State Prison
Curtis Mincey, 74; July 22, 2021, blunt-force trauma of the head, neck, torso and extremities
Daniel Nichols. 26; April 23, 2023, homicide. Cause not stated. Certificate not in.
• Number of suicides: 2
Screven County Correctional Institution
• Number of suicides: 1
Smith State Prison
Taylor Harrison Brooks, 26; April 10, 2020, multiple stab wounds
John Bretleir Reyes Cardona, 24; April 20, 2020, exsanguination (severe loss of blood) from stab wound to neck
Justin Nathaniel Wilkerson, 25; Jan. 5, 2021, asphyxia, neck compression
Desmond Hill, 35; April 9, 2021, strangulation
Hiwatha Abdulcah Hakeem Jr., 26; April 12, 2021, multiple stab wounds. Incident report shows four other offenders involved.
Derrick Dionte Deshun Harvey, 26; June 25, 2021, stab wound to the chest
Christopher Ray Reynolds, 38; July 1, 2021, blunt- and sharp-force injuries of the head and neck
Christopher Michael Redwine, 45; Sept. 27, 2021, asphyxia due to manual strangulation
Nathan Michael Mahan, 37; Oct. 23, 2022, stab wounds
Randy O’Neal Wynn, 54; March 2, 2023, homicide. Death certificate says pending investigation
Anthony Zino, 71; April 5, 2023, asphyxia, neck compression inflicted by other
Calvin Darrell Denson Jr., 31; April 26, 2023, stab wound to chest. GDC said seven inmates were involved in a fight.
Shaquan Jahrel Boykins, 31; May 11, 2023, blunt impact injuries of the head
Justin Tyler Smith, 37; July 28, 2023, epidural hematoma, blunt force injury of the head. The medical examiner said he was punched and fell to the ground, striking his head
Quenton Mayo, 30; Aug. 14, 2023, stab wounds of the neck
Correctional officer Robert Danford Clark, 42; Oct. 1, 2023, multiple stab wounds. He was attacked by an inmate
James Adams Jr., 72; Nov, 8, 2023, blunt force trauma of the head and neck.
• Number of suicides: 8, including one at Smith Transitional Center
Telfair State Prison
Cedric La’Troy Johnson Sr., 35; March 13, 2020, strangulation
Aldrich Norval Cain, 26; April 23, 2020, multiple stab wounds. Incident report shows four other inmates involved.
Marcus Derrelle Pearson Jr., 28; May 29, 2020, multiple stab wounds. Incident report shows two other inmates involved.
Luis Garcia Palacio, 41; July 28, 2020, blunt impact injuries of the head
Juan Carlos Arguelles-Reveles, 37; May 7, 2021, stabbing. Incident report shows 11 other inmates involved.
Xavier LaMar Warren, 32; Dec. 28, 2022, stab wound of the torso. Incident report shows four other inmates involved.
De’ahmoz Oshmic Floyd, 29; April 18, 2023, exsanguination (severe bleeding); stab wound to the side of neck
Kwesi Stultz, 24; Dec. 22, 2023, homicide. Death certificate not in
• Number of suicides: 4
Terrell County Correctional Institution
Logan Todd Peterson, 27; Dec. 27, 2021, post-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the space around the brain), assault
• Number of suicides: 1
Valdosta State Prison
Prince Leonard Blige, 54; Feb. 12, 2020, stab wound to torso
Orvonta Tillman, 36; June 16, 2020, multiple sharp-force penetrating trauma to thorax
Bobby Carpenter, 31; Sept. 9, 2020, stab wound to the chest
Hakeem Olajuwon Williams, 27; Feb. 28, 2022, stab wound to the chest
Dexter Jarrod Burnett, 35; Sept. 16, 2022, stab wound of the torso
DyLance Montex Lampkin, 41; July 30, 2023, multiple stab wounds to the torso
Quoesent Lamont Bostwick, 35; July 31, 2023, homicide. Cause not stated. Certificate not in.
• Number of suicides: 15, including one at Valdosta Transitional Center
Ware State Prison
Robert Lee Wilson III, 31; July 17, 2020, multiple stab wounds. Incident report shows 16 other inmates involved, seven of whom were injured.
Christopher Arnett Rawls, 32; Sept. 5, 2020, strangulation
Christopher Eli Gresham, 39; Sept. 30, 2021, stab wounds of back and lower extremities. A Sept. 30, 2021, incident report of a homicide says three other inmates were involved.
Kyle Anthony Strother, 31; June 5, 2022, stab wound of the chest
Va’Darian LaVianta Carr, 26; Sept. 18, 2022, stab wound of the chest and back
Alfonso Marquez Moore, 30; June 19, 2023, blunt impact injuries of the head
Thomas McCoy, 38; Oct. 7, 2023, stab wound of the chest
• Number of suicides: 7
Washington State Prison
Marquis Reshawn Jefferson, 26; May 12, 2022, stab wounds of torso and arm. A May 11, 2022, incident report of a homicide says four other inmates were involved.
DaQuavious Cachone Lackey, 21; May 16, 2022, stab wound of the neck and multiple blunt-force injuries
Michael Lee Jackson, 60; Aug. 17, 2022, multiple blunt-force injuries in the setting of hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Incident report shows two other inmates were involved.
• Number of suicides: 1
Wheeler Correctional Facility
LaParrish Dawayne London, 30; March 21, 2023, stab wound of the chest
• Number of suicides: 3
Wilcox State Prison
James Forest Williams, 43; Oct. 3, 2022, blunt and sharp force injuries of head, torso and extremities
• Number of suicides: 2