Daniel Williams
Daniel Williams, 22, was the father of young children, and his father said he ran track and got along with everybody. He was held at Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore County, Alabama, and was due to be released on November 9, 2023, the day he died. He was found unresponsive in his dorm on October 22, 2023, and taken to a hospital, where his family removed life support on November 5; sources give his death as November 8 or 9, after he was moved to another facility. The family says he was beaten and sexually assaulted and that prison officials first told them he had overdosed, while the Alabama Department of Corrections said a possible inmate-on-inmate assault was under investigation, and the state autopsy called the death a homicide by probable asphyxia from smothering. A federal wrongful death lawsuit alleges prison officials failed to keep him safe, and an Elmore County grand jury returned no indictments.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The state autopsy ruled homicide by smothering after a possible inmate-on-inmate assault, while his family's federal lawsuit says prison officials failed to keep him safe from a prisoner who held, tortured and sexually assaulted him for days, and first told the family he overdosed.
Reported by: Alabama Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (medical examiner or coroner); Williams's family and their federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (advocates).
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit over his death at Staton Correctional Facility, alleging that prison officials failed to keep him safe.
News reports (15)
- Family says inmate dead after being assaulted at state prison
- Inmate dies weeks after assault, Alabama Department of Corrections confirms
- 22-year-old father killed in Alabama prison
- Family says son severely beaten at Donaldson Prison, condition not known
- Alabama inmate days from release dies after prison attack left him brain-dead
- Alabama Inmate Days From Freedom Is Found Brain Dead After Being Tortured, Raped by Prisoners: Family
- Uncle says nephew murdered over $10 drug debt in Alabama prison; says 'inmates are running the asylum'
- Family and friends remember Daniel Williams; investigation into his death in Alabama prison continues
- Suspect in rape, murder of 22-year-old inmate had history of sexual violence, records say
- ADOC confirms Staton Prison inmate death, disputes mass prison overdose claims
- Grand jury fails to issue indictment in torture death of prison inmate Daniel Williams
- Father's outrage as no charges filed in son's torture, rape, death in prison
- Wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of Daniel Williams' family in prison killing
- Federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by Daniel Willams’ family after prison death
- Family files federal lawsuit against Alabama Department of Corrections over inmate's death