First CO on trial for murdering Messiah Nantwi found guilty of first-degree manslaughter
On March 1, 2025, 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi was brutally beaten to death by a gang of 15 correctional officers (COs) at Midstate Correctional Facility. The trials of the 5 pigs who pleaded not guilty are currently underway.
The first trial ended at the beginning of this month. Jonah Levi was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree gang assault, second-degree gang assault, fifth-degree conspiracy, and first-degree offering of a false instrument for filing in the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi. The testimony from Messiah’s cellmate, who was in the same cell when he was murdered and then forced to clean up his blood, was particularly harrowing.
“Every CO should fear the consequences of what will happen to them if they lay a hand on someone.“
We only know what happened to Messiah because other men behind the wall bravely spoke up, contacted the media, and testified despite extreme retaliation from COs. Killer COs will kill again unless they are locked up, so we need to take every opportunity we can to hold them accountable.
Every CO should fear the consequences of what will happen to them if they lay a hand on someone.
“New York doesn’t have the death penalty, but the death penalty was given to Messiah, so what are they going to do to them?” said Mayreni Lopez, Messiah’s aunt. “I’m going to manifest this, but there’s going to be some type of Messiah’s Law. As soon as one of you touch these inmates, it’s right then and there, you are not going to get to go home: No, you are behind the jail cell along with them.”
There are three remaining COs on trial for the murder of Messiah. Dare to Struggle has declared May 1st a day of protest for Messiah Nantwi. People will be speaking out inside and out of prisons making the following demands:
- Send the five COs on trial (Jonah Levi, Michael Iffert, Caleb Blair, Craig Klemick, and Thomas Eck) to prison
- Fire and charge New York corrections Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III for his complicity in the torture and murder of incarcerated individuals, including the deaths of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi
- Protect the men inside who exposed and testified against the killer COs and now face retaliation
Women at SCI Cambridge Springs face inhumane conditions
The author of this piece is a woman currently incarcerated at SCI Cambridge Springs (CBS) in Pennsylvania. She wrote to Dare to Struggle exposing the conditions inside the prison.
SCI Cambridge Springs is one of only two women’s prisons in Pennsylvania. Once a college campus, located in the middle of a neighborhood, the women at SCI-CBS have more to fear on the inside than those living on the outside surrounding the facility.
Numerous complaints of racism, prejudice, bias, sexual abuse/harassment, abuse of power—just to name a few—have gone deliberately neglected by administration, with the superintendent, a woman herself, creating a harsh and cruel environment. Unchecked power has allowed for staff to treat the women housed at SCI-CBS as inhuman.
In addition to the mistreatment suffered, the living conditions, both interior and exterior, are dilapidated. Mold has taken over one unit; though still commonly seen throughout other units. Sanitation issues such as black flies, dirt, and filth within the shower stalls have been ignored by the “higher-ups.”
Though a number of complaints have been voiced verbally and through written communication, still little to no action has been taken regarding the concerns of the women at SCI-CBS listed below:
Threats of retaliation for filing complaints
The PA DOC has a “grievance” system that specifies the necessary steps an inmate is to follow before filing a grievance. However, instead of working for the inmates, in actuality it works against them. Administration (including the Secretary’s Office of Inmate Grievances and Appeals) usually sides with staff despite not conducting thorough investigations of inmates’ claims. The women at SCI-CBS risk their safety for expressing concerns due to threats of retaliation experienced afterwards.
Sexual abuse/harassment
The PA DOC handbook expresses “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment; however, claims have been made that sex between inmates and sex between staff members have taken place. Further claims state that administration has been made aware and turns a blind eye. Inmates and staff have used sexual harassment as a means to agitate and antagonize other inmates. Administration has repeatedly told several inmates that they “don’t have enough” and/or that it’s “not sexual enough” to take action despite opposing statements written in the PA DOC handbook.
False misconduct reports
It’s been reported that a vast majority of the misconduct reports are fabricated. Allegedly a few COs have bragged about having the authority to lie on misconduct reports with no consequences. This not only violates the women’s rights, but further allows for the abuse and mistreatment to continue. The women at SCI-CBS are demanding body cameras be worn by COs for the purpose of having full transparency.
Mental health
Once stigmatized, mental health is taken more seriously and viewed as a top priority and concern in society today. Evidently, SCI-CBS feels opposite, outside the practice of giving a pill for “this and that.” The facility is said to be professionally ill-equipped to deal with those suffering from mental health issues, and they are not sensitive to those who have broken down mentally with staff and administration looking on. The women’s cries for help are often ignored, leaving the individual in a worse condition and untreated.
Verbal and physical abuse
Misconducts are given if an inmate uses foul language towards staff, however there are no repercussions when vulgar and abusive language is spewed at the women at SCI-CBS. Obscene expressions reportedly used by staff have been such names as “crackhead,” “old hag,” “dumb convict,” “old motherf—er,” “junkie,” “crippled b—h,” “coocoo” (when referring to those with mental health issues), as well as racial slurs. There have also been allegations of incidents involving staff being physically abusive towards inmates, especially those who speak out against the brutality witnessed at the facility.
Racism and prejudice
In this day and age one would think that skin color would not play a factor in how a person is treated, but sadly it does. Women of color state that there is a huge disproportion of how they are treated and punished in comparison to the Caucasian inmates at SCI-CBS. The discrimination and intolerance of the presence of the women of color is not hidden; it’s blatant due to the environment it’s been allowed to grow in, according to some of the women at SCI-Cambridge Springs.
Again, these are not all of the complaints made by the women of SCI-Cambridge Springs. Regardless, they are nonetheless disturbing. No “rehabilitation” is happening. According to the claims made by the women at this facility, staff and administration do more “corruption” instead of “correcting.”
Please take a moment to spread the word about the injustices taking place at SCI-Cambridge Springs. There needs to be an investigation into the facility, including the removal of those in administration continuing to use their power of authority to oppress the women at SCI-Cambridge Springs.
Two men found dead at Rikers in one week and all the city has to offer is empty promises and illusory reforms
Barry Cozart died on March 25 at Rikers Island, after he was “discovered in need of medical aid” by COs. His family has said that he had no medical conditions when he was first locked up, and they are calling for an investigation into what happened. Four days later on March 29, John Price died after being released from Rikers to Elmhurst Hospital because he “required medical attention.”
“This year we have a new mayoral administration, a new DOC commissioner, and a newly appointed federal receiver overseeing Rikers Island (a former CIA officer, no less). But nothing has changed..”
So far NYC DOC won’t say what caused these tragic deaths, but what we do know is that they should have been prevented. Prisoners at Rikers live under inhumane conditions, and COs and other staff routinely harass people, delay urgent medical treatment, bring illegal drugs into the facilities, and overall create an unsafe environment. They incite violence, provoke people, and then play the victim. Over 100 people have died due to these nightmarish conditions in the last decade, with 15 deaths in the last year alone.
Last year on March 15, 2025, Ariel Quidone died in Elmhurst Hospital due to blatant medical neglect at Rikers. Surveillance video showed that multiple staff members noticed he was unwell and failed to get him medical care until it was too late. Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, the commissioner at the time, said they were “mourning the loss of someone in our care” and “will investigate every aspect of this tragedy.” But his family is still fighting for justice, and they have yet to see any accountability. Every CO and medical team member staffed that day has his blood on their hands. Instead of being held accountable for their crimes, these criminals are still at large and putting countless people at Rikers in danger.
In addition to medical neglect and the witholding of crucial medication, the people inside face the active abuse of bloodthirsty COs who run amok behind closed doors. The New York Times identified over 120 instances in which guards were described as having punched, kicked or stomped on prisoners, smashed their fingers in cell doors, held their legs apart and struck their genitals with batons, and even waterboarded them — all while the prisoners were handcuffed or otherwise restrained. And these numbers are on the rise. According to the Correctional Association of New York (CANY), prison staff members reported an increasing rate of force per inmate, with 2024 being the highest year on record.
This year we have a new mayoral administration, a new DOC commissioner, and a newly appointed federal receiver overseeing Rikers Island (a former CIA officer, no less). But nothing has changed. In response to the death of John Price, Commissioner Stanley Richards said, “This loss weighs heavily on all of us and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.” People are still dying at the hands of a ruthless “justice” system, and all that the people in power have to offer are thoughts and prayers.
It is clear we cannot rely on politicians to enact change or deliver justice for our loved ones. They continue to make false promises year after year while incarcerated people across the state, and across the country, suffer and languish behind bars. Killer COs and neglectful medical staff are the real criminals here.
It won’t take another election or another politician to fix this. It will take the organized movement of the masses of people most under the gun, boot, and baton of this fucked up system fighting for real societal change. We must confront the real enemies here, killer COs and every person up the ladder covering for their crimes.
It is clear we cannot rely on politicians to enact change or deliver justice for our loved ones. They continue to make false promises year after year while incarcerated people across the state suffer and languish behind bars
If you or anyone you love has experienced this firsthand or you are simply outraged by the continued brutality of this system, hit us up. Dare to Struggle wants to hear from any current or former incarcerated individual, as well as their loved ones, who wants to come forward with their own stories of prison brutality. We support the righteous struggles of incarcerated rebels against their oppressors!
Attica Calling is a newsletter that exposes the daily reality of torture, murder, and mistreatment inside of New York State Prisons. We believe that the people who can best tell the truth about what’s happening are the people on the inside and their loved ones on the outside. This newsletter is produced by Dare to Struggle, an organization committed to standing with the people subjected to the horrors of the American nightmare. Send us your story.
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