Inmates, former correctional officer face murder charges in inmate death at Elmore Prison

The Alabama Department of Corrections is investigating an inmate’s death at Elmore Prison, which has led to criminal charges.

ADOC says inmate Rubyn James Murray was involved in an incident outside his dorm yesterday. ADOC says it led to a physical fight with an officer, which led to minor injuries to both of them.

ADOC says Murray was taken to the back gate holding area to be driven to the Staton Prison Health Care Unit for treatment. ADOC says before that happened, two other inmates got into the holding area. ADOC says Murray was found unresponsive and was taken to Staton and then to a hospital for emergency treatment. They say medical staff was unable to resuscitate Murray and he  was pronounced dead.  

ADOC says the cause of death is pending an autopsy. 

Based on evidence gathered so far, ADOC says Correctional Sgt. Demarcus Sanders and inmates Fredrick Gooden and  Stefranio Hampton have been charged with murder. ADOC says Sanders, who has resigned, is being held in the Elmore County Jail without bond. The inmates remain in custody. Further charges and personnel actions are pending, ADOC says. 

Murray, who was 38, was serving a 20-year sentence for robbery out of Montgomery County.

ADOC says Gooden, 60, is serving a 30-year sentence for theft out of Jefferson County. Hampton, 35, is serving a life sentence for robbery out of Montgomery County, according to ADOC. 

The ADOC says it has contacted the FBI and the Elmore County District Attorney’s Office.