A grand jury on Tuesday handed up a number of criminal indictments against state correction officers involved in the death of an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Oneida County in March, Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters.

The inmate, Messiah Nantwi, 22, was pronounced dead at Wynn Hospital in Utica on March 1. Fifteen people of interest were named in the investigation.

The details of the indictment have not been made public, though Hochul said her administration ordered the termination of those who were indicted.

“The tragic death or Nantwi at the hands of correction officers who are responsible for protecting the incarcerated population is deeply deeply disturbing. The loss of any life in any of our correctionalfacilities is one too many. That does not reflect our values as New Yorkers and his family deserves justice," Hochul said at an event in Ulster County.

The state attorney general's office earlier this month recused itself from the investigation and appointed Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick as special prosecutor. Fitzpatrick, a registered Republican, was first elected Onondaga County DA in 1991 and was reelected to a ninth term in 2023. He has not released any information on these indictments.

Mid-State Correctional is located across the street from Marcy Correctional Facility, where authorities say the use of force by correction officers led to the death of Robert Brooks in December. Six prison workers have been charged with murder in that case. Several deaths of incarcerated individuals were reported across the state during the recent three-week strike by correction officers, according to DOCCS.

“The safety of New Yorkers is my highest priority. I’ll continue to work with the Department of Corrections commissioner to enforce the highest standards of professionalism and respect within every DOCCS facility and ensure all, all individuals are treated humanely," Hochul said.