Aubrey McKay
Aubrey McKay, 27, died on June 4, 2025, while held at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Wise County, Virginia. He was weeks away from release and planned to go home to his family; his sister Avondra Carter called him "our protector," and his obituary described him as a "lovable but stern courageous big mamas boy." The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia ruled his death a homicide, citing multifactorial asphyxia, and the Department of Corrections says at least one officer was reprimanded or placed on leave. His mother, Stacy Carter, has described head trauma, black eyes, bruising from restraints and a fractured Adam's apple, and a man held in an adjoining cell says officers beat McKay after he repeatedly asked for mental health help. The Virginia State Police and the Attorney General's Office are investigating, and no charging decision has been announced.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide from multifactorial asphyxia, and the Department of Corrections calls it a homicide, but a former inmate in the next cell says guards beat McKay to death after he repeatedly asked for mental health help, and his mother describes head trauma, black eyes and a fractured Adam's apple; the state investigation remains open.
Reported by: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia (medical examiner or coroner); Virginia Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Devon Jensen, a former inmate housed next to McKay (witnesses); his mother, Stacy Carter (family or their lawyers); Virginia State Police (outside investigators).
Sources (20)
- Spanberger requests attorney general investigate 2025 homicide at Wallens Ridge State Prison
- Virginia reported 194 deaths in custody last year. An advisory panel says there's not enough data to make recommendations
- Virginia prison guard fired after death of inmate at Wallens Ridge - The Virginian-Pilot
- Aubrey McKay’s death at Wallens Ridge prison ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner
- Aubrey McKay's death at Wallens Ridge prison ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner
- Former inmate says he saw officers beat Virginia prisoner to death: 'He was a human being, a person'
- Report: Death of Wallens Ridge inmate in June ruled a homicide
- Wise County prosecutor steps aside from Virginia inmate death case a week after CBS 6 report
- Wallens Ridge death considered homicide, officer reprimanded
- Smyth County Commonwealth's Attorney handling charging decision in Wallens Ridge death
- Virginia attorney general launches investigation into Wallens Ridge homicide
- Governor orders Attorney General to investigate inmate death at Virginia supermax prison
- VA Attorney General’s Office takes over Wallens Ridge prisoner death investigation
- VADOC confirms 2nd homicide in Wise County prisons in 2025
- Former inmate pleads for change after McKay homicide, officer reprimanded
- Spanberger announces prison reform following death of officer, inmates
- Gov. Spanberger announces reforms to Virginia's prison system
- Virginia Department of Corrections investigating 3 inmate deaths in 3 days
- Former Wallens Ridge inmates allege starvation, beatings and inhumane conditions
- VADOC outlines safety steps at Greensville Correctional Center after 4 inmate deaths in July