Inmate left ‘unrecognizable’ to own mother after getting head ‘sunken in’ by correctional officers during ‘horrific’ jail attack, cops say

A group of correctional officers in Florida allegedly beat up an inmate so badly that he was “unrecognizable” to his own mother, leading to criminal charges.

“It was complete horror,” recounted Mary Pratt, mom of inmate Christopher Castro, about the first time she saw a photo of the 30-year-old after his alleged beating at Dade Correctional Institution in West Miami-Dade on April 6, according to local ABC affiliate WPLG.

“His head was sunken in,” she told the outlet this week. “That was not my son, what I [saw] in that picture.”

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Seven officers with the Florida Department of Corrections have been arrested on battery and evidence tampering charges, among other offenses, for the alleged jail assault, according to court documents. They include former Lt. Shentrica Clark, 40; Officers Jordy Calero, 23, and Travon Norman, 29; Sgts. Deandre Hill, 24; Freddie Morgan, 35; and Richard Jackson.

“They need to be held accountable,” Pratt seethed. “These are the people that are supposed to be watching over them.”

Christopher Castro after he was allegedly assaulted by correctional officers (State Attorney’s Office).

According to an arrest warrant, Castro — who is serving a 15-year sentence for burglary and other crimes — was retrieved from a shower area that day and escorted to an area outside Clark’s office “where there are no surveillance cameras,” per the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Two officers who escorted Castro told police investigators he had no visible injuries at the time of his retrieval and his hands were “cuffed behind his back, per protocol.”

The warrant says that upon arrival to the area outside of Clark’s office, Castro and the officers who retrieved him were allegedly met by “main unit officers” Anglin, Calero, Norman, Jackson, Hill and Morgan. The officers attempted to escort Castro to a nearby holding cell, prompting him to start “dropping his weight” in an attempt to stop them, according to the warrant.

“The victim was kicked and punched several times in his face, on his head, on his back, and on his arms which were handcuffed behind his back,” the warrant says. “After the beating, the victim was escorted back to his cell by the main unit officers. As the victim was being escorted back to his cell, several witnesses observed that the victim had significant facial bruising, bleeding, and scratches.”

Castro told police investigators that after he was returned to his cell, he requested emergency medical attention. “The victim was told that his request was denied,” according to the warrant. Clark later claimed that Castro “tried to stab a corrections officer in the recreational yard” and was seeking medical attention “because he wanted to get out of his cell,” the warrant adds.

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While speaking to another officer following a shift change, Clark allegedly did not inform them of the “use of force” on Castro. The other officer saw “visible injuries” on Castro’s face and “blood on his shirt,” according to police. They “immediately” contacted the warden and informed them of Castro’s condition, which led to photographs being taken for an internal review and the police to be called, the warrant says.

While speaking to cops about what allegedly happened, Clark allegedly stated that she received a phone call from Clark earlier in the day and was informed that Castro had been “rowdy” and “possibly possessed a weapon.”

A strip search was authorized, and no weapons were found. Clark claimed that Castro “only had a little knot on his head” and would be okay, according to police. He was eventually taken to get medical attention after repeatedly complaining of a headache.

“He was unrecognizable,” Pratt said about her battered son. “I was horrified.”

Castro was transferred from Homestead to the Wakulla Correctional Institution in North Florida after the alleged incident, according to WPLG. All of the officers who were allegedly involved in the assault have since been dismissed.

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