A 22-year-old man who was set to be released from the Staton Correctional Facility in early November was hospitalized and later died after being subjected to abuse and torture by other inmates.
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Daniel Williams has been incarcerated at the facility since July, and his family says that he was set to be released earlier this month. Still, they found out he was hospitalized on October 25 and were told that he suffered from a drug overdose. However, the family was horrified when it appeared that Williams did not suffer from a drug overdose but was assaulted. His stepmother, Taylor Bostic, told Alabama Political Reporter that Williams was bound, assaulted, and “sold out” by another inmate around October 22.
“Okay so me and his father just assumed he got a hold of some bad drugs or something. And when we went to see him he’s beaten and bruised up and you can tell where his hands were bound. I mean, you can tell it’s obviously not a drug overdose,” she explained.
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Bostic continued to say that the warden did not tell them that Williams was transported to the hospital until that Wednesday. But another inmate called his family and said that he was found and taken to the hospital on the same day, October 25. Williams was reportedly found in Dorm E1, which was not his dorm, and he was kidnapped for two to three days. The inmates who found him said Williams appeared to be grey.
The hospital nurse and doctor also told the family that there were signs of abuse, and he had visible handprint bruises between his legs. Williams’ father, Terry, said he was only allowed to see his son for 30 minutes per visit, and his cell phone was not permitted during visits.
Despite asking for more information and requesting a rape kit, the hospital told them it was too late to perform an examination initially. Still, it was conducted after the family obtained an attorney. The family was also told if Williams makes it after being taken off of life support, he will need care of his life and will receive palliative care to finish his sentence at the prison.
The family is seeking hold someone accountable due to Williams’ death as he was taken off of life support last week and they want to prevent a similar outcome for another family’s loved one.