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Goettie, Michael L
Status: active
Profile written July 12, 2026
This profile reflects positional accountability — this individual held the leadership roles shown during the dates shown, during which the listed deaths or lawsuits occurred. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding of personal culpability for any specific incident.
Tenure Summary
Michael L. Goettie began his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections as a correctional officer in 2015, rising through the ranks to lieutenant (2017–2019) and unit manager (2020) before being appointed Deputy Warden at Rogers State Prison in 2021. He remained in that role through at least the end of 2025. GPS records show that 14 deaths occurred at Rogers State Prison during Goettie’s tenure as Deputy Warden, the only facility-leader post he has held. One federal lawsuit naming Goettie in his official capacity was filed in 2025, and intel reports document a guard-stabbing allegation and multiple death-in-custody allegations at the facility during his watch.What happened on their watch
Rogers State Prison — Deputy Warden (2021–2025)
All 14 deaths attributed to Goettie’s leadership tenure occurred during his service as Deputy Warden at Rogers State Prison. The decedents ranged in age from 21 to 60. Three deaths were certified as suicides by hanging: Jeremy Lasean Walton (31, in 2021), Michael Glenn McKee (59, in 2021), and Justin Waymon Hollingsworth (43, in 2025). Coroner and GBI autopsy records confirm those manner-of-death determinations. Three deaths were ruled natural: David Edward Wood (2025), who died of coronary and hypertensive heart disease complicated by influenza; Randall Henry Baker (38, in 2023), who collapsed with near-total occlusion of a coronary artery; and Randy Eugene Stewart (60, in 2025), who succumbed to E. coli peritonitis with contributing chronic conditions. One death, that of William Joseph Smiley (41, in 2023), was classified as an accident caused by the toxic effects of methamphetamine complicating asthma, per a GBI autopsy.The remaining seven deaths during Goettie’s tenure were assigned cause category 6 (unknown/pending) in GPS records. Among these, the case of Bradley Lyle Weitzel (40, in 2023) is documented as having received no autopsy: the Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner reviewed a coroner’s referral and declined to examine the body, despite involvement of the DOC’s Internal Affairs and Criminal Investigations divisions. The cause of death for Weitzel therefore remains permanently undetermined. Three other undetermined-category deaths — those of John Meeks (49, in 2026), Taylor Anthony Hunt (29, in 2024), and Shawn Remar Johnson (34, in 2024) — lack publicly available clarifying records at this time. Two deaths from 2022 (Caleb Sexton, 21, and Timothy Brent Jenkins, 22) and one from 2021 (Chad Walker Jeter, 43) also remain undetermined.
Multiple intel reports allege that the death of Taylor Hunt in September 2024 was initially ruled a suicide but that physical evidence — including ligature marks, broken bones, bruises, and puncture wounds — contradicts that finding and suggests homicide. Those allegations are unverified; the official cause category in GPS records remains unknown/pending. Additionally, an intel report mentions a guard stabbing incident at Rogers State Prison during Goettie’s tenure, though no date or outcome is provided.
Litigation
- Daker v. Oliver Filing Restriction Per 59 Order, No. 1:25-cv-03191 (N.D. Ga.), filed June 6, 2025, terminated March 30, 2026. Goettie was named as a defendant in this federal suit, which concerned a filing restriction. No monetary outcome is recorded.
Sources
- GPS mortality database and personnel records — position history, death counts per facility, and death records for all 14 decedents.
- Tattnall County Coroner records — Randy E. Stewart (2025-054), Justin W. Hollingsworth (2025-043), David E. Wood (2025-010).
- GBI Division of Forensic Sciences autopsy/consultation reports — Randall H. Baker (2023-6007460), William J. Smiley (2023-6004962), Jeremy L. Walton (2021-6003956), Michael G. McKee (2021-6003248), Bradley L. Weitzel (consultation, no case number listed).
- Intel reports — multiple allegations concerning Taylor Hunt death and a guard stabbing at Rogers State Prison.
- CourtListener — docket for Daker v. Oliver Filing Restriction Per 59 Order.
Positions Held
| Title | Facility | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| DEPUTY WARDEN | ROGERS STATE PRISON | 2021-01-01 → present |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL UNIT MANAGER | 2020-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL LIEUTENANT | 2017-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL OFFICER 2 | 2016-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | |
| CORRECTIONS OFFICER (SP) | 2015-01-01 → 2015-12-31 |
Lawsuits as defendant
| Case # | Court | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:25-cv-03191 | GAND | 2025-06-06 | terminated |
Deaths attributed during tenure
14 people died at facilities under Goettie, Michael L's leadership.
| Date | Decedent | Age | Facility | Role at time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-19 | JOHN MEEKS | 49 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2025-07-17 | RANDY EUGENE STEWART | 60 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2025-06-26 | JUSTIN WAYMON HOLLINGSWORTH | 43 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2025-02-04 | David Edward Wood | — | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2024-09-27 | TAYLOR ANTHONY HUNT | 29 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2024-07-23 | SHAWN REMAR JOHNSON | 34 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2023-12-06 | RANDALL HENRY BAKER | 38 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2023-08-15 | WILLIAM JOSEPH SMILEY | 41 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2023-03-21 | BRADLEY LYLE WEITZEL | 40 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2022-04-24 | CALEB SEXTON | 21 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2022-04-07 | TIMOTHY BRENT JENKINS | 22 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2021-06-12 | JEREMY LASEAN WALTON | 31 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2021-05-22 | MICHAEL GLENN MCKEE | 59 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2021-03-17 | CHAD WALKER JETER | 43 | ROGERS STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
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