http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/photo-shows-ga-teen-abused-fellow-inmates-family-article-1.2168556#


Photo taken inside Georgia prison shows teen being abused by fellow inmates: family
BY NINA GOLGOWSKI NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 3:10 PM A A A
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Cortez Berry, 18, is seen hunched over with a swollen eye and a belt around his neck while serving time at the Al Burruss Correctional Training Center in Georgia.
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Cortez Berry, 18, is seen hunched over with a swollen eye and a belt around his neck while serving time at the Al Burruss Correctional Training Center in Georgia.
A mother is demanding answers after a Facebook photo surfaced showing her teenage son brutally beaten and tied up by his neck while serving time at a Georgia prison.

In the jarring photo, 18-year-old Cortez Berry, who was sentenced for a 2011 carjacking and robbery, is seen hunched down with a swollen eye in front of two shirtless young men, one who holds the end of a makeshift leash.

The photo is believed to have been taken by fellow inmates at Al Burruss Correctional Training Center before somehow uploaded to Facebook on Friday.

"I was like oh my God! What happened? How'd it happen? It's a terrifying picture to see," Berry's mother, Demetria Harris, told WRDW of the disturbing sight.

Cortez aunt's Shavondria Wright said she visited him on Saturday and asked him first-hand what happened.

Berry's mom, Demetria Harris, is demanding justice for her son while arguing that her son is behind bars to serve time not to be physically abused.
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Berry's mom, Demetria Harris, is demanding justice for her son while arguing that her son is behind bars to serve time not to be physically abused.
"Ten people jumped on him and just kept beating him and they choked him to sleep. Pretty much they left him there for dead," Wright recalled Berry's story to WRDW.

It apparently happened at 3:15 p.m. but he was left unchecked by the guards until 9:45 p.m. that night, she said.

"They're not being protected. I don't care what they're there for, they still need to be protected," Harris said.

Adding to the mother's concern, the photo's caption hints at it being gang-related as well.

Cortez Berry was arrested at the age of 14 and is serving 8 1/2 years for agravated assault, robbery and theft of a motorvehicle.
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Cortez Berry was arrested at the age of 14 and is serving 8 1/2 years for agravated assault, robbery and theft of a motorvehicle.
"Wen yhu disrespect da nation..it bringz nuthin but pain & sufferingg..#wedntgettired #GDFOLK," that Facebook caption read. The GDFOLK is suspected of standing for Gangster Disciples or G.D. Nation.

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department Corrections did not immediately return a request for comment by the Daily News.

They previously told WRDW that they're aware of the incident and are investigating. They also acknowledged that cell phones, like the one possibly used in this case, are illegal contraband at their facilities.

"We take very seriously our mission of protecting the public and running safe and secure facilities," they stated in part.


Family of Augusta teen in prison says photo shows him being abused
WFXG - Augusta, GA

Berry's facility is currently under partial lockdown as well, they said.

The teen, who turned 18 over the weekend, is serving an 8 1/2-year sentence for aggravated battery, robbery and theft of a motorvehicle.

He was transfered to the medium security detention center last year after violating his probation.

I got a good life man