New Footage Released in Prison Death of Othel Moore Jr.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Recently obtained prison surveillance videos related to the case of Othel Moore Jr., a Black man who prosecutors allege was killed by correctional staff, reveal that nearly 10 minutes elapsed after he became unresponsive before a nurse examined him.
An attorney representing Moore’s mother and sister revealed the footage on Tuesday, showcasing the moments leading up to the tragic event that led to the 38-year-old’s death in December 2023.
Four former correctional employees have entered pleas of not guilty to charges of second-degree murder stemming from Moore’s death. Charges against a fifth staff member were reportedly dismissed, as stated by Karen Pojmann, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections.
According to legal documents, correctional officers allegedly pepper-sprayed Moore, placed a mask on his face, and left him in a manner that resulted in suffocation.
Concurrently, Moore’s family has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against the state. The surveillance footage released by the family captures several incarcerated individuals, dressed only in their undergarments with their hands tied behind their backs, as guards sift through their cells at the Jefferson City Correctional Center on the day of Moore’s death.
The footage indicates that while Moore was handcuffed and positioned outside his cell door, a guard discharged pepper spray towards him, according to the office of Cole County Prosecuting Attorney, Locke Thompson.
The video further documents Moore being escorted away from other inmates, with guards holding his arms as he eventually fell to his knees and then lay face down on the ground.
Subsequently, guards restrained his legs, applied a mask over his face, and secured him in a cart in a reclined posture. As he was restrained, the footage shows him swaying but not actively resisting the guards.
According to guard statements, Moore allegedly disobeyed orders to remain silent and spat at them; however, witnesses contest that he was expelling pepper spray rather than intentionally spitting. Video evidence reveals that Moore was then transported to a locked cell, where he initially attempted to lift himself into a more upright position before succumbing to the reclined position once again.
Moore’s movements gradually decreased over a span of about 20 minutes until he lay completely still, his head tilted to one side. Alarmingly, a nurse arrived roughly 10 minutes after Moore stopped moving; she appeared nonchalant while checking his pulse and adjusting his head. Alongside another staff member, they briefly attempted to administer chest compressions before he was wheeled out of the cell.
Andrew M. Stroth, the attorney for the Moore family, expressed profound concerns during a news conference on Tuesday, stating that prison staff exhibited a “complete lack of urgency” in responding to Moore’s condition.
In a written statement, Stroth emphasized that the footage underscores a blatant disregard for the value of life, highlighting deliberate indifference to providing necessary emergency care to Moore during the critical moments of his distress.
In the aftermath of Moore’s death, ten staff members and contracted employees were terminated. A June statement from the Department of Corrections confirmed, “We have taken and will continue to take steps necessary to mitigate safety risks to everyone in our facilities,” emphasizing their commitment to maintaining a safe environment and condemning actions that threaten the well-being of both inmates and staff.
Pojmann added in an email that body cameras have now been implemented at all maximum-security facilities in the state. Three of the former staffers charged with second-degree murder are set to appear in court in January, while a fourth is scheduled for a trial on December 11.