Dwayne “DJ” Tottleben, a 33-year-old Illinois man serving a 15-year sentence, was shot and killed inside USP Coleman I, a high-security federal prison in Florida, on October 10th. The Bureau of Prisons has offered little to no explanation, leaving his family devastated and searching for answers.
Tottleben’s friend Donna Ford, listed as his next of kin, received a late-night call from the prison with news of his death: no details, just that he was gone. She says she had spoken to him earlier that day, and everything seemed normal.
“He told me he loved me. He was in a good mood,” she recalled.
His father learned of the shooting from Ford the next morning and was stunned when the medical examiner confirmed DJ had died from a gunshot.
“I didn’t know if someone stabbed him or shot him,” he said. “I didn’t know anything.”
Guns are typically not allowed inside federal prisons. According to BOP policy, only certain officers approved by wardens can carry firearms, usually during transportation or perimeter duty. The agency has not confirmed who fired the weapon or why.
Tottleben’s family has launched a GoFundMe to pursue legal action and an independent medical review. Their message is clear: they want the truth and accountability.
