Inmate Deaths Under Investigation
For Immediate Release
April 29, 2019 (Updated April 30)
Jeanny Sharp
(785) 670-0089
Jeanny.Sharp@ks.gov
Cheryl Cadue
(785) 215-2857
Cheryl.Cadue@ks.gov
Inmate Deaths Under Investigation
The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) is investigating whether illegal drugs played a role in four recent inmate deaths at three state correctional facilities.
Since Friday, two Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmates, one Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility inmate and one El Dorado Correctional Facility inmate have died. The cause of death in each case is pending autopsy results.
The deaths currently are under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Those deaths under investigation are:
- Ethen Thornton, KDOC# 94219, passed away Friday morning, April 26, at an area hospital. He had been housed at Hutchinson Correctional Facility.
- Quinn Martin, KDOC# 101870, passed away Friday afternoon, April 26, at an area hospital. He had been housed at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.
- Kendrick Gracey, KDOC# 89814, passed away Saturday night, April 27, at El Dorado Correctional Facility.
- Jeremy Waller, KDOC# 117694, passed away this morning, April 29, at Hutchinson Correctional Facility.
In addition, an inmate at Hutchinson Correctional Facility was found nonresponsive Sunday night but was revived after Narcan, an opioid reversal drug, was administered.
A copy of the message being given to every inmate can be found here.
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