Deaths in Custody
Died in jail or a lockup

Elisha Turpin

40 years old · died October 13, 2026 · Wayne County Detention Center, Wayne County, Kentucky

Elisha Turpin, 40, of Monticello, Kentucky, was a member of Fall Creek Baptist Church, according to his obituary, and is survived by his father, sister, daughter, nieces and nephews. He was held at the Wayne County Detention Center, where he was found in his cell in a medical emergency on October 13, 2026, and taken to Wayne County Hospital, where the coroner pronounced him dead. A 911 call obtained by LEX 18 News has a jail deputy asking for emergency responders and describing him as blue with a faint heartbeat, and the deputy said staff had been observing him on surveillance. His sister, Jackie Reed, said he 'could still be alive today,' and the family questions why more was not done sooner, including whether he had been calling for help beforehand; they are calling for changes to medical care in local jails. The state medical examiner will perform an autopsy, and Kentucky State Police are investigating the cause of death.

Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). Kentucky State Police and the Wayne County Coroner's Office say he collapsed in his cell during a medical emergency, with the cause still under investigation; his family and friends question why more was not done sooner, including whether he had been calling for help beforehand, and are calling for changes to medical care in local jails.

Reported by: Kentucky State Police (outside investigators); Wayne County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); family and friends.

News reports (10)

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