A man held at Rikers Island jail complex has died after being observed in an unwell state in his cell, the New York City Department of Correction reported. The incident took place at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center, where a guard noticed the man’s condition around 2 a.m., prompting a call for medical staff and EMS. The individual, identified as 32-year-old Aramis Furse, was taken to Mount Sinai Queens Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:15 a.m., Gothamist reported.
“The Department is mourning the tragic death of an individual in our custody. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family,” NYC Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie said in a statement. Following the death, the Federal Monitor, Board of Correction, and State Attorney General’s office are reviewing the case. The facility has already recorded 14 deaths this year, more than double the number from the previous year, Gothamist noted.
Just weeks before this incident, another man at Rikers, 38-year-old Edwin Ramos, died in custody. According to PIX11, these in-custody deaths contribute to a total that highlights ongoing challenges within Rikers Island and the city’s oversight of the facility.
Plans to close Rikers Island and replace it with four smaller jails have been delayed. Mayor Eric Adams has stated that the originally proposed closure by 2027 is unlikely to be feasible. This week, the New York City Council is scheduled to conduct an oversight visit at Rikers. PIX11 reports that the visit occurs amid ongoing concerns about systemic issues following the death of an individual who was reportedly observed as “unwell” in his cell.
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