Roy Hegwood
Roy Hegwood, a Black boy, was held at the Arkansas Negro Boys Industrial School in Wrightsville, Pulaski County. He died on March 5, 1959, when a fire broke out in a dormitory at the school, killing 21 boys. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, the dormitory doors were reportedly locked from the outside. The same account says Roy was one of seven victims who were identified and buried separately. In 2019, the Arkansas Department of Correction dedicated a memorial listing each of the boys by name.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (neglect alleged). Officials attributed the deaths to a dormitory fire, and reports say the boys' doors were locked from the outside, which staff did not prevent or undo in time.
Reported by: state officials; news reports.