William Farmer, an Anchorage inmate, died on Monday after being severely beaten by his cellmate, Lawrence Fenumiai, at Anchorage Correctional Complex. Farmer, 36, was rushed to Providence Alaska Medical Center following the December 17th assault but succumbed to his injuries nearly a week later.
The Alaska State Troopers reported the incident as Fenumiai, 33, faces second-degree murder charges in Farmer’s death. Authorities said the assault began when Fenumiai repeatedly punched Farmer in their shared cell. This occurred after the Farmer refused to stop talking after being told to stop.
Correctional officers restrained Fenumiai three minutes after discovering the attack. The director of the Alaska Prison Project at the American Civil Liberties Union, Megan Edge, expressed concern over the attack.
“Two in a year is exceptionally unusual and very concerning,” stated Edge. Charging documents reveal that Farmer had been transferred to the jail a day before the assault and was vulnerable due to his mental state.
Reports also shared that Fenumiai was previously deemed unfit for trial. He remained in custody for months after his case was dismissed in Juneau. The Department of Corrections acknowledged the assault occurred amid overcrowding where triple bunking has become common. Edge criticized the system, pointing out how delays in releasing inmates and housing vulnerable individuals together create unsafe environments.
Farmer was recently arrested for robberies, while Fenumiai faced a history of assaults, including one dismissed days before the attack. Despite a transport order, the DOC did not clarify why they did not transfer Fenumiai back to Juneau.
The ACLU and Alaska State Troopers continue investigating farmers’ deaths as they examine gaps in inmate protection. DOC maintains the safety of inmates as a priority, but critics like Edge argue failures in oversight contributed to the tragedy.
This news article was originally published by Alaska Public Media.