The warden of Wisconsin’s oldest prison, the Waupun Correctional Institution, along with eight other prison staff members, has been arrested following an investigation into the deaths of four inmates within the past year.
Randall Hepp, the warden of Waupun Correctional, was arrested just before a scheduled briefing to update reporters on the ongoing investigation into these deaths.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office revealed that one inmate died due to dehydration and malnutrition after being intermittently denied food and water by guards.
Another inmate’s body, who died from a stroke, went undiscovered for around 12 hours.
Sheriff Dale Schmidt expressed his outrage, stating, “It infuriated me seeing the things that were happening in that prison.”
He emphasized that the inmates were not properly cared for and vowed to hold those accountable.
Mr. Hepp faces charges of misconduct in public office, while the other eight employees are charged with inmate abuse, with three of them also facing misconduct charges.
The charges stem from the deaths of two inmates, Donald Maier, 62, and Cameron Williams, 24.
Williams died from a stroke after a fall, with investigators noting that he had repeatedly complained of medical issues that were allegedly ignored by prison staff.
Maier’s death resulted from dehydration and malnutrition, allegedly caused by the staff shutting off water to his cell and withholding meals, despite his mental health condition.
The Waupun Correctional Institution, established in 1851 and housing 1,001 prisoners as of June 2023, has been under scrutiny.
Governor Tony Evers had previously mentioned a federal investigation into a suspected smuggling operation involving prison employees in March.
Source-BBC
