Ten former New York correctional officers face felony murder charges following the brutal prison beating of 43-year-old inmate Robert Brooks, whose death exposed alleged systemic abuse at Marcy Correctional Facility. Body-worn camera footage released by prosecutors shows multiple officers punching, kicking, and choking the fully restrained man for over 14 minutes while colleagues watched without intervening.
A grand jury indicted six guards on second-degree murder charges for the December 2024 assault that caused:
- Fractured hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage
- Severe internal organ damage
- Fatal blood aspiration from facial injuries
Key defendants Nicholas Anzalone and Christopher Walrath allegedly led the attack while Brooks was shackled to an exam table. The indictment states guards created a grave risk of death through coordinated violence with no legitimate law enforcement purpose, continuing assaults during two separate infirmary visits.
These men killed my father on camera. Every person enabling this violence must be held accountable,said Robert Brooks Jr. in a tearful statement following the indictments.
New York AG Letitia James revealed three supervisors and a nurse witnessed the beating but failed to stop it or promptly call medical help. Governor Kathy Hochul terminated 14 facility staff members following initial investigations into what union leaders called an incomprehensible anomaly in prison operations.
The case highlights growing concerns about correctional facility transparency as attorneys prepare to use body camera evidence showing:
- Multiple officers targeting Brooks’ genitals
- Guards falsifying use-of-force reports
- Supervisors obstructing emergency care
With pretrial hearings scheduled for October, legal experts predict this footage could set precedents for prosecuting prison brutality cases nationwide. All defendants remain free on bail while awaiting trial.
