Markis Nathan Rattling Leaf
Markis Nathan Rattling Leaf, 42, was a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe from South Dakota who co-founded Brave Hearts, a group for LGBTQ+ people held in prison that focused on financial independence through art and on ending violence against LGBTQ+ people in prison. His sister, Miranda Roubideaux, described him as an advocate for the queer and transgender communities in prison. He died in March 2025 at the Federal Correctional Institution at Fairton in New Jersey. His death certificate lists the cause as puncture wounds from a pencil and the manner as homicide, according to his family, and the FBI is investigating; federal officials have said little publicly and have not said whether anyone has been charged.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. The death certificate, provided by his family to NJ Advance Media, lists the death as a homicide from puncture wounds from a pencil, and the FBI is investigating.
Reported by: death certificate, as provided by family to NJ Advance Media (medical examiner or coroner).