Two extra individuals held in metropolis jails died by suicide in 2025 and three extra fatally overdosed on contraband narcotics, the New York Metropolis Workplace of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed Monday.
The coroner’s workplace stated Sonia Reyes, 50, who died March 20 within the West Facility, and Benjamin Kelly, 37, who died June 21 within the Eric M. Taylor Middle, each took their very own lives by hanging.
Terence Moore, 55, who died Feb. 24 in a holding space in Manhattan Prison Court docket, overdosed on artificial marijuana, generally often known as “K2,” as did Dashawn Jenkins, 27, who died March 31 on the George R. Vierno Middle, the workplace stated.
James Maldonado, 56, died June 21 — the identical day as Kelly — whereas on a Division of Correction bus of an overdose brought on by the mixed results of fentanyl, morphine and methadone, the coroner’s workplace stated. The beforehand disclosed deadly overdose of Ramel Powell from artificial marijuana in February brings the overall overdose deaths for the 12 months to 4.
The official causes of loss of life within the 5 instances had not been beforehand publicly disclosed.
Along with Reyes and Kelly, Jimmy Avila, 44, the brother of a Division of Correction captain, took his personal life on Aug. 30 by hanging, however his official reason for loss of life has not been disclosed. And after Ardit Billa, 29, died in a cell on Aug. 23 on the Vierno Middle, a captain and two officers had been suspended for failing to conduct required rounds. Billa’s reason for loss of life has not been formally revealed.
“I don’t understand what they are doing over there,” stated Metropolis Council member Sandy Nurse, chair of the Prison Justice Committee, referring to the DOC. “It feels a little like they’ve given up, like for whatever reason protocols aren’t being followed. There’s no reason someone should be able to commit suicide in the jails.”
Stephan Khadu and his mom, Lezandre Khadu. (Courtesy of Lezandre Khadu)
Thus far in 2025, there have been 12 jail-related deaths. The causes of loss of life within the 4 different 2025 instances are pending additional research.
“Having someone you love behind those walls is the worst feeling ever. I felt so helpless trying to advocate for my son to people who didn’t seem to care if he lived or died,” stated Lezandre Khadu, who son Stephan Khadu died in DOC custody on the Vernon C. Bain Middle precisely 4 years in the past Monday. His loss of life was brought on by issues of meningitis, a treatable sickness, and will have been contracted within the jail.
“Ultimately, their carelessness killed him, and the only thing worse than knowing that is that it continues to kill more people. We need to finally close Torture Island down, decarcerate, and put that money back in our communities,” he added.
Shayla Mulzac-Warner, a DOC spokeswoman, declined to touch upon the person deaths, however stated in a press release the company is “committed to preventing dangerous contraband, including drugs, from entering our facilities, as well as addressing other mental health crises.”
“We have recently disrupted several large smuggling operations and continue to enhance our operations to address the dangerous trend of the introduction of drugs into the jails,” she stated.
She stated DOC is launching a substance abuse program and has educated a brand new group of suicide prevention aides — detainees who get particular instruction and hold watch on different detainees.
The deaths in 2025, nonetheless, look very like the sorts of deaths that befell within the jails lately.
In 2021, the ultimate 12 months of the de Blasio administration, there have been 16 deaths, together with 4 suicides and 4 deadly overdoses. The primary 12 months of the Adams administration noticed 19 deaths, with 5 suicides and 4 deadly overdoses.
In 2023, there have been 9 deaths, 5 in 2024 and up to now this 12 months, there have been 12 deaths.
The New York Metropolis Division of Corrections emblem is pictured on the ground of a Rikers Island jail. (Todd Maisel / New York Every day Information)
Phrase of the causes of loss of life within the 2025 instances comes as a Manhattan federal decide strikes nearer to deciding on an out of doors official with broad powers to run the jail system.
The federal monitor monitoring violence and use of drive within the jails not too long ago disclosed roughly 30 individuals utilized for the submit, saying it favored somebody expertise operating massive correctional establishments.
In Might, the decide, Laura Taylor Swain, dominated the system wouldn’t change into compliant with court docket orders with out an out of doors official — often known as a “Remediation Manager.” Swain had discovered the town in contempt of a variety of court docket orders in November following eight years of monitoring.
In a press release Monday, the town Board of Correction stated stories on the 2025 deaths had been within the works.
