As two families grieve the loss of their loved ones, they are united in their fight for answers and accountability. Both men, serving time at South Bay Correctional Facility in Florida, met similar fates, having been fatally stabbed while under the supposed protection of the institution managed by The GEO Group. The mother of one victim, Allec Garcia, learned of her son's death two days late, while the family of Antron Griffin, the other victim, remains shrouded in mystery concerning the circumstances of his death.
According to a report by NBC 6 Miami, Allec Garcia, age 34, died on July 3, but his family was not informed until July 5, leaving them dismayed and searching for answers. Antron Griffin, age 31, was killed back on March 11. "They were human beings; they mattered," stressed Kimberly Wald, an attorney representing the Griffin family, as per the NBC 6 Miami interview. The families have now filed lawsuits against The GEO Group, alleging negligence and failure to protect their loved ones.
Further underpinning the families' grievances, an attorney for both estates referenced a pattern of violence and negligence at the facility. In an interview with WPTV, Wald said, "Staff are underpaid and under-trained, and it leads to its situations just like this: murders and homicides that really should have been prevented." The recent deaths add to a troubling history at South Bay Correctional Facility— a facility that The GEO Group, a Boca Raton-based corporation, has been running under a contract eclipsing $550 billion with the Florida Department of Corrections.
While The GEO Group declined interview requests, they offered a written statement obtained by WPTV asserting their commitment to the "safety, security, and well-being" of those in their care. The statement also mentioned the ongoing cooperation with law enforcement officials in the investigation process. However, these assurances ring hollow to the families caught in a perpetual state of mourning and demand for justice. "We will not stop fighting until we have the truth," Alfredo Garcia, brother of Allec Garcia.
The deaths of Garcia and Griffin have raised concerns about the privatization of Florida's prison system and its ability to protect inmates' rights. As their contracts with the state near renewal in 2024, these events could impact the future of private prison operations and accountability.
