Messiah Nantwi
Messiah Nantwi died on May 1, 2025, at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, New York, after a beating that prosecutors call a homicide. Former correctional officer Caleb Blair faces murder and manslaughter charges in the death and is set for trial starting May 4, 2026. A co-defendant, Jonah Levi, was found guilty by a jury of first-degree manslaughter and related charges. Witnesses testified that Nantwi had synthetic marijuana in his system, and the defense plans to call a pharmacologist.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). Prosecutors say Nantwi died after a beating by correctional officers, and former officer Caleb Blair faces murder and manslaughter charges, while the defense plans to argue that synthetic marijuana in his system caused or contributed to his death.
Reported by: prosecution; witnesses who testified at trial.