Elisha J. Turpin
Elisha John Turpin, 40, of Monticello, Kentucky, was a member of Fall Creek Baptist Church and is survived by his father, sister and other relatives. He was held at the Wayne County Detention Center, where, according to Kentucky State Police, he was found in his cell on the morning of October 13, 2026, suffering a medical emergency, and he was taken to Wayne County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A 911 call obtained by LEX 18 News has a jail deputy asking for emergency responders, describing him as blue with a faint heartbeat, and saying staff had been observing him on surveillance. The state medical examiner will perform an autopsy, and the cause and manner of his death remain pending while Kentucky State Police investigate.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined. Kentucky State Police say he suffered a medical emergency in his cell, and the state medical examiner's autopsy is pending, so the cause of death is not yet determined.
Reported by: Kentucky State Police (outside investigators).
News reports (6)
- Wayne County inmate’s death under investigation by KSP
- 911 call reveals moments before Wayne County jail inmate was rushed to hospital
- KSP investigating inmate death
- Kentucky State Police Investigates Death of an Inmate in Wayne County
- Death Investigation Underway after Inmate dies in Wayne County Detention Center
- State police investigating death of inmate at Wayne County jail