The information provided does not match the details of a Daniel Caleb Williams who died on April 19, 2015, from Red River, NM. Instead, the sources describe the death of a different Daniel Williams, a 22-year-old inmate who died in an Alabama prison.
Daniel Williams, a 22-year-old inmate, died under horrific circumstances while serving a one-year sentence for a property theft charge at Staton Prison in Alabama.
Williams was just weeks away from his release when the incident occurred in October 2023. According to reports, Williams was drugged, hog-tied, and raped by other inmates. He was found unconscious on the bunk of another inmate, who is believed to be responsible for his death.
The suspect in Williams' murder had a history of sexual violence and assaults within the prison system. State documents revealed nine reports of the inmate sexually assaulting other incarcerated men over a five-year period. Despite this history, the Department of Corrections failed to take disciplinary measures that would have kept the inmate segregated from others. The inmate had been involved in various other incidents, including selling drugs, threatening violence, and placing a 'hit' on another inmate. He had also been caught sexually assaulting and raping other inmates in different prisons.
Williams was transferred to Jackson Hospital and placed on life support before he died in hospice care at Kilby Correctional Infirmary on November 8, 2023. The autopsy report indicated that the cause of death was probable asphyxia due to smothering, with evidence of ligature restraint and multiple abrasions and contusions. A DNA rape kit revealed that there were three attackers involved, and the family believes Williams was held by other inmates for two to three days before his death.
Despite the severe nature of the crime and the clear history of violence by the suspect, no charges have been filed in Daniel Williams' death as of the current date. An Elmore County Grand Jury considered charges including murder and manslaughter but returned no indictments. The case could potentially be revisited if more evidence surfaces.
The incident has sparked significant outrage and criticism of the Alabama prison system. Critics argue that the system's failure to protect inmates and the lack of accountability for such violent crimes are indicative of deeper systemic issues. The Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice has highlighted the need for better oversight and the alarming mortality rate in Alabama prisons, which is five times the national average.
