The head of Connecticut’s prison system faced tough questions about a 2019 death at the New Haven Correctional Center on Friday.

Lawmakers demanded additional reform before tentatively approving a $3.75 million settlement for the family of Robby Talbot, a mentally ill inmate who was kicked and repeatedly pepper-sprayed.

The supervising corrections officer later pleaded guilty to assault charges, while others were accused of covering the incident up.

Colleen Lord still struggles with the video of her son’s last moments inside his state prison cell.

“I heard my son gulp out his last words: ‘I can’t breathe,’” she said. “Under the heavy weight of multiple officers piling on him and restraining him with five-point restraints in a solitary cell as he writhed in pain.”

Talbot was "combative" and smeared feces on the wall of his cell, according to court records.

But officers violated Department of Corrections policy by using pepper spray inches from his face repeatedly, then kicking him. The state medical examiner ruled Talbot's death a homicide.

The supervising guard, Officer Carlos Padro, pleaded guilty third-degree assault but was allowed to retire with a full pension.

A DOC internal investigation revealed that other officers falsified a use-of-force report to cover up the incident, but no one else faced charges.

On Friday, the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee approved a $3.75 million legal settlement for Talbot’s parents, who sued Padro and the state of Connecticut.

But not before grilling the state’s top corrections official.

“You are unaware for close to two years that there is a falsification by folks under your supervision? That’s correct?” asked state Sen. Gary Winfield (D-New Haven), the committee’s co-chair.

“Correct,” replied DOC commissioner Angel Quiros.

Winfield replied: “How is that possible?”

Other lawmakers questioned the Connecticut attorney general’s office about why Prado will not have to pay – even though the AG’s office refused to defend him because they deemed his conduct “wanton and malicious.”

“The main question is, should the taxpayers be solely responsible for this number?” said state Rep. Craig Fishbein (R-Wallingford). “And my answer is no.”

Representatives from the AG’s office said they released Prado because Talbot's family did not wish to pursue the case against him.

Quiros told the panel that he is re-opening the internal investigation to determine who falsified documents related to Talbot’s death – and how they did it.

“I want to apologize to Ms. Lord and her family for the pain and the loss of her son at the hands of the Department of Corrections,” he said.

Quiros said major incidents now must go directly to him for review. He is also considering requiring each corrections officer to wear a body camera.

“I think that body cams are needed inside a correctional facility in order to deter this kind of behavior – this kind of tragic incident from very happening again,” he said.

On Friday, the Judiciary Committee also approved $37.6 million in restitution for eight people who were wrongly convicted.

All the settlements must still be approved by the full Legislature.