The Attorney General’s Office is recusing itself from the investigation of the correction officers involved in the death of an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility.

Attorney General Letitia James filed a motion to recuse her office because four of the officers involved are defendants in other cases that are, or were, represented by her office’s State Counsel Division.

Messiah Nantwi was found dead on March 1 at the facility in Marcy. Fifteen correction officers have been placed on leave pending the investigation.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has been appointed as a special prosecutor.

Fitzpatrick is also prosecuting the cases of the 10 correction officers charged in connection with the death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. Six correction officers have been charged with murder, three with manslaughter and one with tampering with physical evidence.