Race Day Live Oklahoma lawmaker Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) is taking legal action in an open-records lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC).
The lawsuit, filed by the family of MarQuiel Ross, aims to uncover details about his death while in state custody.
Ross was serving a sentence for a stolen vehicle charge when he was murdered by his cellmate in September at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
His family claims the DOC covered up the circumstances of his death and failed to explain why he was transferred to a maximum-security prison before the incident.
Rep. Humphrey has been vocal about the case since October when he led a legislative study at the Capitol. He has criticized the DOC’s handling of Ross’ imprisonment and continues to support the family’s fight for transparency.
Attorney Richard Labarthe, representing Ross’ family, announced the lawsuit on January 30. He accuses the DOC of withholding key records that could provide answers.
According to Humphrey and the family, there is little to no documentation supporting the misconduct allegations that led to Ross’ transfer to McAlester.
The DOC, however, claims Ross had a history of misconduct, including two incidents where he allegedly assaulted staff members.
A department statement said Ross was moved between five different prisons due to disciplinary issues, including spitting on a transport officer.
Following Humphrey’s decision to join the lawsuit, the DOC released a press statement pushing back against his claims.
“While we cannot undo this heartbreaking situation, we remain committed to ensuring safety and accountability within our facilities,” the department stated.
Ross’ cellmate, Justin Harris, was charged with first-degree murder in October. The Ross family also alleges that the DOC failed to inform them of his death promptly.
They claim they barely had enough time to prevent the department from cremating his body before they could investigate further.
The DOC’s press release further criticized Humphrey, stating that he has “repeatedly misrepresented facts, spread misinformation, or outright misled the public” regarding their operations. They argue that his continued attacks on the department are politically motivated.
“His ongoing attacks against the agency and our dedicated correctional officers stem from his grievances, including his unsuccessful bid to become director, and he continues to use his platform to serve his interests,” the statement read.
DOC Director Steven Harpe emphasized that the agency takes all acts of violence seriously.
“Ross’ cellmate was swiftly held accountable for his alleged actions, and my sympathies go out to Ross’ loved ones,” Harpe stated.
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Meanwhile, another Oklahoma lawmaker, Rep. Tim Turner (R-Kinta), has spoken out against Humphrey’s involvement in the lawsuit.
He criticized his fellow Republicans, arguing that Ross was being held accountable for his actions while in prison.
“All Oklahomans deserve to know that when a person is incarcerated, they will serve their sentence,” Turner said in a statement.
“It is apparent to me that while Mr. Ross was in custody for breaking the law, he continued to break the law as well as Oklahoma Department of Corrections rules.
Because of his actions and the need to hold him accountable, his discharge date and the location of his incarceration had changed.”
As the lawsuit moves forward, the case continues to raise questions about transparency, inmate safety, and the accountability of Oklahoma’s prison system.
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