USA: 22yo Man Serving One Year Sentence On Drug Charges In Alabama Medium Security Prison Was Tied Up, Tortured, Raped For 3 Days By 3 Attackers In Another Inmates Cell Found Day Of His Release.

🚨NO WHITE SUPREMACISTS INVOLVED🚨 

🚨NO ISLAMIC JIHADISTS INVOLVED🚨 

ABC 33/40 published November 13, 2024: Father's outrage as no charges filed in son's torture, rape, death in prison.

NBC15 News, Mobile, AL

Father's outrage as no charges filed in son's torture, rape, death in prison

written by Cynthia Gould

Wednesday November 13, 2024

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL (WBMA) — A father's anguish over the loss of his son turns to outrage as he learns no criminal charges will be filed in the brutal attack inside an Alabama prison.

The killing of Daniel Williams gained national attention. Williams was 22 years old serving a one year sentence on drug charges, dying the day he was to be released.

"I'm speechless really," said Terry Williams after learning no indictments were handed down by an Elmore County Grand Jury in the homicide. "I think about it all the time," said Williams wiping away tears. Prior to his son's death he had lost his mother.

Williams saw multiple injuries on his son at the hospital. "It looked like mop handles across his head, bruising everywhere. It's something parents shouldn't see," said Williams.

The autopsy from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences lists the Manner of Death as Homicide and the Cause of Death as probable asphyxia due to smothering. "Injuries of the decedent's face are highly suggestive of his face being pressed into a soft object."

The report notes "evidence of ligature restraint" on the inmate meaning he was tied up. It also reports "multiple abrasions and contusions in varying states of healing."

A DNA a rape kit revealed three attackers according to Williams' family. They believe he was held by other inmates over two to three days.

Daniel was found unconscious, on the bunk of another inmate the family believes is responsible for this death. An I-Team investigation found that inmate had a history of sexual violence yet was housed in an open dorm area.

Daniel was transferred to Jackson Hospital and placed on life support before dying in hospice care at Kilby Correctional Infirmary on Nov. 8, 2023.

We asked a longtime prison researcher with Alabama Appleseed how an inmate could be held by other inmates, tortured and raped for two to three days and no one intervenes? Where are the guards?

"Great question. In a secure prison to have someone kidnapped and moved to a dorm where he's not supposed to be for a period of days, it's unconscionable. There should have been officers to see that and cameras," remarked researcher Eddie Burkhalter. He says he is surprised the Elmore County Grand Jury which met last month returned no indictments.

"Daniel's death and the inability to hold anyone accountable is more evidence why more eyes need to be on this crisis," said Burkhalter. His organization tracked 325 deaths last year in the state prisons. "They've gotten worse across the board," said Burkhalter.

Terry Williams says corruption opens the door for violence telling us a similar thing happened to another inmate who did not die. He believes others are simply too afraid to come forward.

We asked had Daniel expressed any fears in prison? His father said no, he was just ready to come home. Terry Williams spoke to his son two nights before he was attacked.

Daniel had only been transferred into Staton Prison a few weeks prior to his death. The reason according to his father, Daniel had been in a scuffle at a rehabilitation facility with another inmate, so they were both shipped out to prisons.

Staton is a medium security level prison. It's not clear why Daniel, a low level offender, was sent there. The family blames the prison system for failing to protect their son and now the justice system they say has failed them as well.

"I go by the grave once a week; it's getting hard. Change has gotta happen or there's going to keep being death after death, after death," said Williams.

Elmore County District Attorney C.J. Robinson says the grand jury considered charges including murder and manslaughter. The case could be represented if more evidence surfaces.

Details of the proceedings are confidential but Robinson explained the panel did review video/audio evidence and reports from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

Alabama faces a lawsuit from the Department of Justice for 'unconstitutional' conditions inside prisons due to the violence and understaffing.

A new prison is under construction at a cost of a billion dollars, but it will not relieve overcrowding. The state has launched incentive programs to hire more correctional officers. As parole rates have dropped dramatically, the prison population continues to increase.