A-Mark Finalist Spotlight: Deaths in Custody at the Marion County Jail
The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting recognizes journalism that exposes injustice and demands accountability. This year’s third-place finalist, Deaths in Custody at the Marion County Jail, exemplifies that mission through relentless local reporting.
Launched by the Ocala Gazette, this body of work began with questions about how mentally ill inmates were being treated—and too often, dying—inside the Marion County Jail. Reporters uncovered inconsistencies in official accounts from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as well as troubling medical practices by the Heart of Florida Health Center, which provides inmate healthcare. Their reporting gave families a voice, revealed systemic failures, and spotlighted the absence of state laws requiring in-custody death reporting.
The series prompted public scrutiny, spurred legal battles for access to public records, and drew the attention of Disability Rights Florida, which opened an investigation into the treatment of disabled inmates in Marion County custody. Despite obstacles—including public records requests quoted at tens of thousands of dollars—the Gazette team persisted, holding powerful institutions to account in a climate increasingly hostile to oversight.
One judge said: “Deaths in Custody at the Marion County Jail is a remarkable investigation of abuse and neglect of the incarcerated, a subject that despite all efforts, still needs scrutiny. The intrepid work of the journalists Caroline Brauchler and Jennifer Hunt Murty is actually groundbreaking in today’s environment and while reported on a local level, represents a service to the nation.”
Behind the reporting are two journalists who embody the spirit of local watchdog reporting:
Jennifer’s Bio:
Jennifer Hunt Murty is the founder and publisher of the Ocala Gazette, an independently owned newspaper recognized as the area’s leading source of investigative reporting. She launched the Gazette in 2020 to provide trustworthy, in-depth local journalism at a time when misinformation was on the rise and credible community news was in short supply.
Murty came to journalism as a second career, guided by the belief—echoing Justice Hugo Black—that “the press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” That principle shapes her work daily.
Like many small newspaper owners, she juggles multiple roles—but reporting remains her greatest passion. In just five years, she has built a reputation for dogged persistence in overcoming public records exemptions and reporting roadblocks to uncover stories that hold the powerful to account.
Caroline’s Bio:
Caroline Brauchler joined the Ocala Gazette in 2022 and has devoted much of her career toward reporting on inmate rights and conditions within the jail, with a specific focus on the impacts of incarceration on the mentally ill.
Caroline was drawn to the journalism industry because of her natural sense of curiosity and passion for intricate research in the pursuit of fact. She is enthusiastic about the legal system and enjoys reporting on trials and court proceedings.
What inspired this investigative piece?
“This body of reporting started with concerns about how the mentally ill were becoming hurt or dying at the Marion County Jail. It led to us uncovering untruthfulness from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and our State Attorney’s complicity in covering up the losses. The investigation also revealed disconcerting medical practices by the Heart of Florida Health Center, which provides services to inmates.” -Jennifer Hunt Murty
What impact has your reporting had so far — on the public, policy, or your newsroom?
We fought in court and won exempt records that reflected untruthfulness by the MCSO for the circumstances surrounding the death of Scott Whitley. When we realized how many inmates had died the past few years, we gave families a voice to talk about their loved one and struggle to get them care. We shined a light on an MCSO employee whistleblower, the questionable background of the medical director for the Marion and Sumter County jails and explained that there are no state laws that require in-custody death reporting by agencies. Disability Rights Florida has opened an investigation into the treatment of the disabled at the MCSO. The MCSO shift in stopping medical compliance reporting is making it more difficult to monitor what is happening at the jail, so we’ve increased our outreach to families and lawyers to get help obtaining medical records of vulnerable inmates. – Jennifer Hunt Murty
Were there any unexpected challenges or revelations during the process?
We consistently make more public records requests than any other news outlet in central Florida and we often face extremely high costs associated with obtaining the records that are necessary for us to tell the stories of people who have been neglected in jail. At one point, we were quoted $95,000 for requesting emails between high-ranking sheriff’s office personnel directly involved in the oversight of the jail and specifically for emails that reference the names of the 32 known fatalities in the jail since 2021. Despite negotiations to narrow down our request to reduce the cost, we were never able to get a quote less than $20,000 to obtain the emails. We have never seen them to this day. – Caroline Brauchler.
Why is investigative journalism important to you — especially in today’s climate?
Investigative journalism is becoming more important because of things such as Gov. Ron DeSantis dissolving all community oversight for law enforcement agencies last year. A growing list of public records exemptions makes it very difficult to get public records. This climate creates a situation where many of our community’s most vulnerable citizens may be harmed without consequences. – Jennifer Hunt Murty
Socials to be tagged:
Instagram: @ocalagazette
Twitter/X: @ocalagazette
Facebook: Ocala Gazette
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