Four Missouri prison guards are charged with second-degree murder and another with involuntary manslaughter in the death of inmate Othel Moore Jr., who died from positional asphyxiation after being restrained and pepper-sprayed.

The charges come after Moore was left in a restrained position for 30 minutes following the application of pepper spray, a spit hood, and a restraint chair, leading to his death from positional asphyxiation, which a medical examiner ruled a homicide. The incident, recorded on prison surveillance and described as part of a broader pattern of abuse within the Missouri Department of Corrections, has prompted the Department to discontinue the use of the restraint system involved and start using body-worn cameras. Moore's family has filed a lawsuit against the guards and the Department, drawing parallels to other high-profile cases of alleged custodial violence.

Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson confirmed that the entire incident was captured on the prison's video surveillance system. According to Thompson, the footage clearly shows the series of events that led to Moore's death. The recording played a significant role in bringing charges against the guards involved.

Othel Moore Jr.'s death occurred after Officers Justin Leggins and Jacob Case pepper-sprayed him. Following the pepper spray, Officer Aaron Brown placed a spit hood over Moore's face. Officers Gregory Varner and Bryanne Bradshaw then secured Moore in a leg wrap and a restraint chair, leaving him in that position for 30 minutes. This combination of restraints ultimately led to positional asphyxiation, as determined by the medical examiner.

When Moore was finally moved to a hospital wing, he was pronounced dead. Details from the medical examiner's report confirm Moore’s cause of death as positional asphyxiation and list it as a homicide. An attorney representing Moore’s family, Andrew Stroth, has stated that Moore had blood coming out of his ears and nose at the time of his death and cited the case's connection to the murder of George Floyd.

Moore's family, through their attorneys Andrew M. Stroth and Steven Hart, has filed a lawsuit against both the officers involved and the Missouri Department of Corrections. The lawsuit not only targets the individual guards but also names former warden Doris Falkenrath and the previous director of Missouri Department of Corrections, although these individuals have not been arrested.

In response to the incident, the Missouri Department of Corrections has discontinued the use of the restraint system that was directly linked to Moore's death. Additionally, the Department has begun implementing body-worn cameras for its officers, aiming to increase transparency and accountability within the prison system.

The Department of Corrections has stated that 10 staff members involved in the incident are no longer employed by the department or its contractors. This move comes amid growing concerns about a pattern of abuse within the Missouri prison system.

Jordan Seller, a former inmate, claimed to have witnessed the entire incident and recounted Moore’s last moments in a statement to investigators. Seller's account aligns with the details provided by the surveillance footage and the medical examiner’s report.

Statistics reveal a troubling pattern in the Missouri prison system. From 2012 to 2019, the average number of deaths per year was 99. However, this number increased to an average of 128 deaths per year from 2020 to 2023, peaking at 137 deaths in 2023. These figures have raised alarms among prisoner advocacy groups and have intensified calls for reform within the Department of Corrections.

The incident involving Othel Moore Jr. is viewed by his family and their legal team as part of a larger pattern and practice of abuse within the Missouri Department of Corrections. Family attorney Steven Hart emphasized that systemic changes are necessary to prevent future incidents and ensure the safety and rights of inmates.

In addition to the legal actions taken by Moore’s family, the case has sparked broader discussions about the treatment of inmates within the correctional system. It has also drawn attention to the importance of proper training for correctional officers and the need for comprehensive oversight mechanisms to prevent similar tragedies.