Othel Moore Jr.
Othel Moore Jr., 38, grew up in St. Louis, and his sister, Oriel Moore, said he had plans and wanted to be a productive member of society. He died in December 2023 at a Missouri state prison. Prosecutors say Department of Corrections staff pepper sprayed him, put a spit hood, leg wrap and restraint chair on him, and left him in the chair for about 30 minutes while he said he could not breathe. Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson, citing the medical examiner, says the death was a homicide from positional asphyxiation, and four guards have been charged with murder and a fifth with accessory to involuntary manslaughter. The family's lawsuit disputes the department's account of what happened.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). Prosecutors say Department of Corrections staff pepper sprayed him and left him in a restraint chair for about 30 minutes while he said he couldn't breathe, and the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide from positional asphyxiation; his family's lawsuit disputes the department's account.
Reported by: Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson (outside investigators); Cole County medical examiner (medical examiner or coroner); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family has filed a lawsuit disputing the Missouri Department of Corrections' account of his death, while four guards have been charged with murder and a fifth with accessory to involuntary manslaughter.