Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced today the jail sentence of former Department of Correction (“DOC”) Captain REBECCA HILLMAN, 40, for issuing orders that prevented officers from saving the life of Ryan Wilson, a person in custody at Manhattan Detention Complex (“MDC”), in November 2020. She was sentenced to six months in jail. On March 14, a New York State Supreme Court jury found HILLMAN guilty of one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide. The resolution of this case represents the first time a correction officer has been convicted of and sentenced for Criminally Negligent Homicide.
“Rebecca Hillman’s negligence and shocking lack of regard for Ryan Wilson’s well-being led to his death. I hope this sentencing can help close what I know has been an incredibly traumatic time for Mr. Wilson’s family and loved ones,” said District Attorney Bragg.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “Ryan Wilson might still be alive today had Rebecca Hillman taken the urgent, appropriate action required of a Department of Correction captain whose job was to protect him, and all persons in custody. Instead she chose to do nothing. Her dereliction of duty had tragic consequences, and I hope today’s sentence provides some measure of justice for Wilson’s family. I thank the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for this successful prosecution and the Department of Correction for its assistance.”
As proven at trial, HILLMAN was a Department of Correction Captain in the unit where Ryan Wilson was assigned housing. On the afternoon of November 22, 2020, HILLMAN was planning to have Mr. Wilson moved to another housing unit after an argument with another incarcerated person. Mr. Wilson, who remained locked in his cell pending the move, fashioned a noose out of a bedsheet and attached it to a light fixture. After calling an officer over, Mr. Wilson climbed on a stool, put the noose around his neck, and threatened to hang himself if HILLMAN would not come and let him out of his cell.
The officer attempted to calm Mr. Wilson and called HILLMAN to inform her that she was needed immediately in the housing unit. Instead, HILLMAN went into the control room, where she began filling out paperwork. After waiting for approximately 10 minutes, Mr. Wilson moved onto his bed, his neck in the noose, began a countdown, and jumped off the bed. The officer, who saw Mr. Wilson jump, called for the cell to be opened immediately so he could cut him down.
HILLMAN emerged from the control room and came up to the cell, which was opened. She ordered the same officer who had been standing at the door – and who was holding a tool to cut the noose Wilson had fashioned – not to enter and cut Mr. Wilson down, saying that he was fine and was “playing around.” She then casually looked inside and said that Mr. Wilson was faking it because he was still breathing. At this point, HILLMAN ordered that the cell door be closed, leaving Mr. Wilson hanging alone inside the locked cell. She left the area to do her usual work, including completing entries in a log book and walking around the unit.
About 15 minutes after Mr. Wilson jumped, HILLMAN finally gave the order to open the cell again and called for a medical team. Officers in the area cut Mr. Wilson down, felt a faint pulse, and began chest compressions. When medical personnel arrived a few minutes later, Mr. Wilson was already dead. The New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”) launched an investigation in accordance with its policy to investigate all deaths in correctional facilities.
D.A. Bragg thanked DOI for its assistance in this case.
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