An Alabama man’s family is accusing Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore, Alabama, of sexual assault and severe beating that eventually left him in a coma just two weeks before his scheduled release. Daniel Terry Williams, 22, was serving a one-year sentence for assault and theft charges as part of a plea agreement. According to court records and his family, Williams was set to be released on November 9th, the same day he passed away. The incident occurred during his brief stay at Staton following a transfer to the facility. Williams’ father, Terry Williams, expressed his determination to seek justice, stating, “Somebody’s got to pay for it, and I’m not backing down. It’s my son. I’ll go to my grave with this if I have to.”
Williams’ stepmother, Taylor Bostic, revealed that a doctor informed the family that Daniel had been in a coma even before receiving medical attention. The family is devastated and angered by the incident, questioning how such a severe assault was allowed to happen. Williams’ girlfriend received a call from a warden at Staton in October, stating that he had been hospitalized due to a drug overdose. Bostic contacted the warden to inquire about the situation but was told that both of Williams’ parents were marked as “N/A” on the contact slip. However, Bostic discovered that Daniel was on life support after calling the warden herself. The warden also informed her that Williams had been hospitalized due to a drug overdose on October 22nd.
When Williams’ parents arrived at the hospital, they were shocked by the extent of his injuries. Bostic described him as being “black and blue from head to toe” with restraint marks on his wrists and indents on his head. Terry Williams confronted the warden about the false information they had received, and the warden claimed the incident was under investigation. According to Terry, Daniel had been tied up and beaten on October 19th, three days before another inmate brought him to an officer for help.
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) acknowledged a possible inmate-on-inmate assault at Staton on October 22nd. Williams was discovered unresponsive in his dorm and was transported to the Health Care Unit where medical personnel treated and monitored his condition. He was later transferred to a hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Ultimately, Williams was moved to Kilby Correctional Facility for long-term care but passed away.
The ADOC is currently investigating the incident, and the Justice Department previously sued Alabama over the poor conditions in its prisons, citing extensive violence between prisoners and guards. Bostic described Daniel as an active and devoted father to his one-year-old daughter and young son. A GoFundMe page has been created to cover his funeral expenses. Williams’ mother, Tammy Williams, announced his death on social media and pledged to keep fighting for justice.
