Grand jury clears essex county correctional officers in inmate death case
Prison fence. Grid fence with barbed wire against sunset. Barbed wire. Security measures for prisoners in prison.

Grand jury clears Essex County correctional officers in inmate death case

Posted by
1 min read
August 8, 2025

TRENTON, NJ – A state grand jury has declined to criminally charge any Essex County correctional police officers in connection with the December 2021 death of inmate Daniel Gelin, 27, of Elizabeth, following a fight at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.

The Attorney General’s Office says Gelin was injured during an altercation with another inmate on December 2, 2021, during which the other inmate appeared to have a weapon and made stabbing motions. Officers intervened, and medical staff treated Gelin before clearing him to return to the jail population.

The next morning, Gelin complained of difficulty walking and asked to return to the medical unit. Shortly after, officers found him on the floor of his cell. A medical emergency was called, and he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead just after 9 a.m.

After reviewing video, witness testimony, and autopsy results, the grand jury voted “no bill” on August 4, 2025, concluding no charges should be filed against the officers. The inmate accused of stabbing Gelin was indicted in March 2022 on murder and weapons charges, with trial still pending.

——
Key Points

  • Grand jury found no criminal wrongdoing by officers in 2021 inmate death
  • Daniel Gelin died a day after fight with another inmate who allegedly used a weapon
  • Alleged attacker faces pending murder and weapons charges
Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss