Murder of Robert Brooks

Prior to the killing of Robert Brooks, Marcy Correctional Facility was the subject of numerous reports of prisoner abuse. C.O. Anthony Farina and Sergeant Glenn Trombly, both implicated in the killing of Robert Brooks, were involved in the 2020 assault and disfigurement of the inmate William Alvarez. Robert L. Brooks was a 43-year-old inmate serving a 12-year sentence since 2017 for first-degree assault in the stabbing of his ex-girlfriend. He was a musician who completed a GED while incarcerated. == Incident ==

On December 9, Brooks was transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility to Marcy Correctional Facility to be brought to a medical examination room and sat on an examination table while handcuffed. An officer then forced a white object in Brooks's mouth and another officer held his throat. Multiple officers then started striking the restrained Brooks in his face, torso, groin, and buttocks. Several officers stood in the room as passive bystanders. Two officers then lifted Brooks, who was then unresponsive, Sergeant Glenn Trombly; C.O. Nicholas Anzalone; C.O. Matthew Galliher; Sergeant Michael Marshaw; C.O. Christopher Walrath; C.O. Nicholas Kieffer; and C.O.s Along, David Walters, Kessler, David Walters, and Nicholas Gentile. Other involved personnel include Kyle Dashnaw, RN Patricia Matos, and Abedin Mehmedovic. == Aftermath ==

The beating received widespread condemnation. NYSDOCCS commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III made a statement that “It is not enough to simply condemn this horrific act and then go back to business,” emphasizing that his department now audits body cameras to ensure they remain activated at correctional facilities. The NYSCOPBA police union representing the involved officers called the events "a disgrace to their profession." Because the office of the Attorney General of New York represents state employees facing legal action related to their jobs, lawyers from Attorney General Letitia James's office were assigned to defend four of the officers involved; consequently, James announced that she would recuse herself from the investigation. Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick was appointed to serve as special counsel in James's place. Body camera footage of the incident was made public on December 27. The recorded bodycam footage has video but no audio as the 4 officers who wore bodycams during the incident had them powered on but not activated so the footage was recorded in the bodycam's stand-by mode where it does not record sound. Brooks's autopsy, released in February 2025, ruled that his death was a homicide, caused by compression of the neck and multiple blunt force injuries. State lawmakers have responded with various proposals for reform, such as enlarging the New York State Commission of Correction and appointing an independent investigator. Closing the facility has also been proposed. == Criminal charges ==

On February 20, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that prison workers would be arrested and charged with murder in connection with the killing of Brooks. A grand jury issued murder, manslaughter, gang assault and tampering with evidence charges. Seventeen corrections department employees — including four sergeants, 11 correction officers, and two nurses — were already suspended and facing discipline. On May 14, Gentile pled guilty to attempted tampering with physical evidence, and was sentenced to one-year conditional discharge. Trial for the remaining officers was set for October 6. On November 21, four of the officers involved — Anthony Farina, Nicholas Anzalone, Michael Mashaw and David Walters — were sentenced by Oneida County Court Judge Robert L. Bauer. Farina and Anzalone were both sentenced to 22 years in prison on a charge of first-degree manslaughter. Mashaw, the ranking officer in the infirmary at the time of the assault, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison on a charge of second-degree manslaughter. Walters was sentenced to 28 months to 7 years in prison on a charge of second-degree manslaughter. While Walters was not accused of putting his hands on Brooks, he admitted he was present during the assault, failed to intervene, and verbally prevented a nurse from entering to help Brooks. On January 16, 2026, Fisher pled guilty to a lesser charge of reckless endangerment. == See also ==