10 former prison guards indicted in death of inmate Robert Brooks

Shreedhar Rathi | Feb 21, 2025, 08:54 IST

( Image credit : AP )

Ten former corrections officers have been indicted for the fatal beating of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. Six officers face murder and manslaughter charges, while others are charged with lesser offenses, including falsifying reports. Body-worn camera footage reveals a brutal assault, leading to Brooks' death due to severe injuries and medical neglect.

Ten former corrections officers have been indicted in connection with the fatal beating of Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility in New York. Brooks died in December after allegedly being assaulted by prison staff while restrained.

Murder and Manslaughter Charges

A grand jury charged six officers—Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, Mathew Galliher, and an unnamed defendant—with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Three others—Michael Mashaw, Michael Fisher, and David Walters—were indicted for second-degree manslaughter, while Nicholas Gentile was charged with tampering with evidence.

Nine of the defendants appeared in court Thursday, all pleading not guilty. A tenth defendant is expected to surrender soon.

Chilling Footage and Allegations

Body-worn camera footage, released by the New York Attorney General’s Office, shows Brooks restrained on an exam table while officers punch and kick him in the face, torso, and genitals.

According to the indictment, Brooks was attacked twice on the day he was transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility.

He was first beaten upon arrival at the infirmary.
Later, inside the emergency room, he was restrained, choked, gagged, and kicked with minimal resistance.

The indictment also alleges that prison staff, including two sergeants and a nurse, failed to intervene. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered the termination of 14 prison staffers following the incident.

Medical Neglect and Cover-Up Allegations

The indictment further claims:

Officers ignored Brooks’ distress, delaying medical attention until it was too late.
He suffered severe injuries to his head, neck, liver, spleen, and testicles and ultimately choked on his own blood.
Anzalone and another defendant allegedly falsified reports, claiming that all use of force ended before Brooks entered the emergency room.
Walters is accused of blocking a nurse from entering the room where Brooks was being held.

Family Demands Justice

Brooks’ son, Robert Brooks Jr., released an emotional statement:

“These men killed my father on camera. Waiting for these charges has been incredibly hard. These men must be fully prosecuted and convicted. But even that won’t be enough—every person in authority who allowed this system of violence to continue must also be held accountable.”

Prison Union Responds

The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association condemned the incident in a December statement:

“What we witnessed is incomprehensible and not reflective of the great work most of our members do daily. This incident could make our correctional facilities even more violent, hostile, and unpredictable.”

As the case moves forward, the indictments mark a significant step toward accountability in one of the most shocking cases of alleged prison brutality in recent history.