In the days leading up to his death, Deandre Roney, a 39-year-old man, expressed fears for his life to both his family and the officers at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama. His family says he was being pursued by another inmate armed with a knife, and had already been stabbed once. Despite assurances from the correctional staff that he would be moved to a safer location, Roney remained in a perilous situation.
Tragically, on June 8, 2024, those fears were realized
when he was fatally stabbed in the back and head with a makeshift knife. He was transported to UAB Hospital where he died the following day, on June 9, 2024. His death was one of four to occur at the Donaldson facility over a three-day period. Roney, who was serving the remainder of a 20-year sentence for robbery and attempted murder, was only months away from his scheduled release.
The Alabama Department of Corrections has stated that a suspect has been identified in connection with Roney's death, but as of July 2024, the investigation was ongoing and no charges had been publicly announced. Roney's sister has been a vocal advocate for justice, speaking out at a public hearing about the circumstances leading to her brother's death and the family's belief that it was preventable. The family was reportedly told by other inmates who the perpetrator was.
