Who is Esias Johnson? 10th Rikers Island inmate dies this year, OD listed as cause
On September 7, Rikers Island saw its 10th inmate death of the year: 24-year-old Esias Johnson. According to reports, Johnson was found dead in his cell at 9:45 am by a correction officer. He was due in court on September 8, records show. As of now, the cause of death is said to be a drug overdose, but an official autopsy is due to be conducted and confirm how he died.
Home to some of New York's most infamous criminals, Rikers Island made the news in April this year thanks to journalist John Lennon. The former inmate of the prison turned the spotlight on healthcare at Rikers earlier this year, as we reported. Last April, we reported that inmates of the island were being offered $6 to dig mass graves on Hart Island, as the surge in Covid-19 deaths left New York with options. That came while the island was battling its own Covid outbreak, which could have led to Harvey Weinstein catching Covid, even though he was moved from Rikers to Wende Correctional Facility.
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Over the years though, Rikers has become infamous for its violence and corruption. In fact, things have gotten so bad that New York has decided to close the facility, by 2026 under an $8 billion plan. In the meantime though, the facility remains a venue for death, mostly spurred by the "horrible conditions". In April, the death of Thomas Earl Braunson put a spotlight on the jail's staffing and supply issues, as well as violation of human rights. Now, Johnson's death shows that things are still pretty bad, despite the promises of reform.
Who is Esias Johnson?
The 24-year-old was arrested in Queens on September 6, NY Daily News reported. He was initially arrested for a misdemeanor but was being held on a fugitive arrest warrant out of New Jersey. Reportedly, Johnson was wanted for making terroristic threats. This isn't his first offense though. Records show Johnson was previously arrested in 2019 on charges of criminal impersonation, making a terroristic threat, and aggravated harassment.
Reportedly, Johnson was arrested in 2019 after making a string of calls and threats to the Marymount Manhattan College, and in one incident asking a student to set a bomb and "kill all the white people". It was reportedly part of a targeted campaign at a student named Nicholas of the school. Beyond that incident, little else is known about Johnson, who is believed to have originally lived in Massachusetts.
(John Moore/Getty Images)
We do know Johnson was found dead in his cell on September 7, as confirmed by the Department of Corrections. It is believed Johnson consumed a mixture of K2, a synthetic drug, and fentanyl before his death. Officials have not detailed how Johnson got his hands on the deadly concoction, or if he overdosed on purpose. "The circumstances surrounding this death will receive a full investigation. We have been in touch with Esias Johnson’s next of kin, and extend our deepest condolences," Correction Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi said at a press conference.
Some reports blame the prison staff, who reportedly has for years has been creating a culture of abuse at the facility, but Shiraldi believes that's not the case. During the conference, he blamed the staff for abusing the unlimited holidays they get to leave others overworked exhausted. "Staff are the heart and soul of our operations. We cannot improve safety until we are fully staffed. When staff do not show up to work, every aspect of our operations suffer — so do the employees who pick up the slack and people in custody," he noted.
Johnson's death has prompted Manhattan Councilman Keith Powers to call for an emergency meeting with corrections officers, to "create an immediate plan of action." Powers added, "We can’t do this alone. The Governor and Mayor must take immediate steps to address this crisis." Johson's death comes just a week after Segundo Guallpa was found dead in his cell, and ruled as suicide.