Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Marcy, located a few miles northwest of Utica in Oneida County. This was due to his conviction for stabbing his long-time girlfriend in April 2016, as reported by the Democrat & Chronicle, a part of the USA TODAY Network. The New York Attorney General’s Office and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations were conducting ongoing reviews of the incident, as stated by Hochul. Hochul emphasized that while most correction officers perform admirably in challenging situations, there is zero tolerance for those who cross ethical boundaries, violate the law, or engage in unnecessary violence or abuse.
Robert Brooks, the individual in question, was serving his sentence after being found guilty of first-degree assault. He had been under DOCCS custody since March 2017 and passed away on December 10 following an encounter with corrections officers the day before. The incident stemmed from his guilty plea to first-degree assault for stabbing his girlfriend Diana Rivera, resulting in his 12-year prison sentence in 2017. The altercation between the couple, who shared a child, occurred in Greece, upstate New York, leading to Rivera being stabbed multiple times in the upper body with a knife. Brooks initially faced charges of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault but his guilty plea resolved both offenses.
The DOCCS Special Investigations Office has obtained and reviewed video footage of the incident, which will be shared with Brooks’ family before being made public. New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed condolences to the family and emphasized the need for law enforcement professionals to be held accountable.
Following the use of force by staff at Marcy Correctional Facility resulting in Brooks’ death, an immediate investigation was ordered by Martuscello. All 14 employees involved, including one nurse, 11 corrections officers, and two sergeants, have either been suspended without pay or resigned pending termination. The DOCCS has refrained from providing additional details citing the ongoing investigation. The cause of death will be determined by the Oneida County Medical Examiner’s Office. Additional suspensions may be enacted as the investigations progress to ensure accountability within the agency and the communities it serves.
