Marvin Knuckles
Marvin Knuckles, 48, of Berea, was working on an outside crew clearing ice and snow at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in Morgan County, Kentucky, when he fell and struck his head. He was taken to Morgan County Appalachian Regional Healthcare, where he was pronounced dead around 7:30 a.m. on January 27, 2026. The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet called it a tragic accident and said it would conduct a review. His sister, Rita Alexander, described him as a good person and said the family cannot understand what happened, has asked for camera footage, and was told there were no cameras in the area. The coroner has said an autopsy is pending.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (disputed; neglect alleged). The state Justice and Public Safety Cabinet calls it a tragic accident after he fell while clearing ice and snow, but his family says the prison was negligent in having inmates work outside in dangerous cold and has asked for camera footage.
Reported by: Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet (the agency that held him); Morgan County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); his family.
News reports (8)
- Inmate dies after hitting head while attempting to remove ice and snow, authorities say
- Inmate dies after hitting head while attempting to remove ice, snow
- Prison inmate from Berea second weather-related death in Kentucky
- Family seeks answers after Kentucky inmate dies while shoveling snow in dangerous weather
- Family seeks answers after inmate dies while shoveling ice
- State releases more details about Ky. inmate death
- Gov. Beshear promises transparency after inmate falls and dies while shoveling snow
- KY corrections chief hasn't visited prison with 4 inmate deaths in the past year, records reveal