In-Custody Death at Rikers Island

In a troubling incident, a 32-year-old inmate at Rikers Island passed away early Sunday morning, marking the 14th death at the facility this year, according to officials from the Department of Corrections.

Aramis Firth was found in poor condition at the Otis Bantam Correctional Center around 2 a.m. He was subsequently taken to Mount Sinai Queens Hospital, where he was declared dead within an hour and a half, as stated by department officials.

Specifics surrounding the circumstances of Firth’s death have yet to be disclosed.

“We are mourning the tragic loss of an individual under our care,” said Lynell McGinley Liddy, the City Corrections Director, in a statement. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. Ensuring the safety of all individuals in our custody is our top priority, and we will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident.”

Public records indicate that Firth was facing multiple charges, including robbery and grand larceny, and was held on a $45,000 cash bail or a $150,000 bond stemming from a pending case in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Notably, this incident follows the death of another inmate, 38-year-old Edwin Ramos, who was found in medical distress on November 21 and also died at the Otis Bantam facility. Ramos had been taken to the prison infirmary prior to his transfer to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In the past year, nine deaths were recorded in city jails, with five occurring in 2023. Additionally, a community advocacy group—Center for Equity, Health and Justice—has criticized the conditions at Rikers, stating that 47 inmates have died since the start of 2022. Jonah Seitz, the group’s advocacy director, described the situation as one of unchecked violence and medical negligence leading to preventable deaths.