Gregory Emary

Gregory Emary, 26, was from Hernando, Mississippi, and his family said he was looking forward to getting out early so he could see his two young sons. He died on the morning of Thursday, January 2, 2020, during a fight among people held at the Chickasaw County Regional Correctional Facility in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, where two others were also hurt. Sheriff Jim Meyers said investigators were questioning people held there to learn what caused the fight, and the Mississippi Department of Corrections also investigated a wave of violence across state prisons that week. Years later, his sister Sydney Miller said the family received almost no details from prison officials and did not learn the death was ruled a homicide until a reporter told her.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. Sheriff Jim Meyers said Gregory Emary was killed in an inmate fight, and the coroner said his death followed a fight, while his sister says the medical examiner ruled it a homicide by stabbing.

Reported by: Chickasaw County Sheriff Jim Meyers (the agency that held him); Chickasaw County Coroner Michael Fowler (medical examiner or coroner); Sydney Miller, his sister (family or their lawyers).

News reports (13)

• News report jaildeathandinjurylaw.com
• Inmates killed in fights at 3 Mississippi prisons this week MPB — Mississippi Public Broadcasting, January 2, 2020
• 4th Mississippi inmate dies from prison violence in a week PBS, January 2, 2020
• Third inmate killed this week in fight at Mississippi prison WAPT, January 2, 2020
• Fourth Death in Mississippi Prisons; Judge Says Other Prison OK Mississippi Free Press, January 2, 2020
• 5 People Have Been Killed in Mississippi Prisons This Week Time Magazine, January 3, 2020
• North Miss. man is fourth MDOC inmate to die in custody since Sunday Action News 5, January 3, 2020
• Mississippi Prison Deaths Follow Warnings of Meager Funding, Shortages Jackson Free Press, January 3, 2020
• 5th inmate dead since Sunday following multiple riots in Miss. prisons, according to MDOC Action News 5, January 3, 2020
• Inmate killed in fight at Parchman WAPT, January 3, 2020
• Mississippi prison chief says 4 of 5 killings done by gangs The Commercial Dispatch, January 4, 2020
• Inmates feared to have escaped after deadly riots at prison The Independent, January 5, 2020
• ‘Catastrophic Failures’: Why Dozens of Killings In Mississippi Prisons Go Unanswered The Scott County Times, September 11, 2025