OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep Tim Turner, RKinta, today refuted claims that the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) is at fault in the death of Marquel Ross, who was an inmate at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at the time of his death.

Turner, a former sheriff and a member of the House Public Safety Committee and the House Appropriations & Budget Public Safety Subcommittee, said he’s been asked about the case and has looked into it.

“I first want to say that it saddens me that this man lost his life, but I also find it disheartening that the true narrative is not being shared,” Turner said. “All Oklahomans deserve to know that when a person is incarcerated, they will serve their sentence. It is apparent to me that while Mr. Ross was in custody for breaking the law, he continued to break the law as well as Oklahoma Department of Corrections rules. Because of his actions and the need to hold him accountable, his discharge date and the location of his incarceration had changed.”

Turner said he learned that Ross was placed in DOC’s custody in March 2023 and was found deceased Sept. 12, 2024. Records also show that while incarcerated in DOC facilities, Ross had eight misconduct violations, one of those for attempting to strike a corrections officer with a closed fist and another for spitting in the face of a corrections officer during transport.

DOC shows Ross also had a misconduct for possession of controlled dangerous substances. The department also reports Ross received multiple sanctions and misconducts causing him to lose time-reduction credits he had earned.

Turner said Ross had been sent to multiple facilities as a result of his infractions, which ended with him being transferred to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary for confinement. Turner said he was told by DOC officials that just days prior to his death, Ross had confirmed his emergency contact information was correct.

Turner said the DOC Inspector General’s Office conducted an investigation into the death that resulted in the charge of Murder in the First Degree being filed against Ross’ cellmate on Oct. 21, 2024. The charge was filed by District 18 District Attorney Chuck Sullivan.

“We can agree to disagree with the Department of Corrections’ policy at times, but it’s time that we don’t just hold the department accountable, we hold the offenders accountable too,” Turner said. “Corrections staff and officers deserve to know that we the citizens and legislators have their back just as we do an offender who becomes a victim while in custody.

“If someone assaults staff and sells, possesses or uses drugs in prison, they haven’t learned their lesson, and they should be held accountable.”

Turner said if allegations against the Department of Corrections can be definitively proven, the department should be held responsible, but if verifiable evidence of wrongdoing cannot be produced, then the matter should be dropped.

Rep. Tim Turner, a Republican, represents House District 15 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Haskell County and portions of McIntosh, Muskogee, Le Flore and Pittsburg counties.