Tyshun Lemons
Tyshun Lemons, 30, died on October 2, 2023, at Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. His brother, Levi Lord, says he had mental health conditions. The Dodge County medical examiner, PJ Schoebel, ruled his death an accidental overdose of acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl, and Sheriff Dale Schmidt said the investigation found no staff misconduct while raising concern about drugs reaching the prison. His sister, Iema Lemons, said she is outraged and filed a federal lawsuit alleging the Department of Corrections failed to keep drugs out of the prison and that staff ignored conditions that let him obtain them, and a federal judge has allowed two of five claims to proceed. Attorney Lonnie Story, who has been in contact with the family, said he died by suicide, a claim the Department of Corrections said at the time had not been confirmed by a medical examiner.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled an accidental acetyl fentanyl overdose and the sheriff found no staff misconduct, but his family questions the ruling, his sister's federal lawsuit alleges prison staff deliberately ignored conditions that let him get drugs, and attorney Lonnie Story says he died by suicide.
Reported by: Dodge County Sheriff's Office (Sheriff Dale Schmidt) (the agency that held him); Dodge County Medical Examiner PJ Schoebel (medical examiner or coroner); Lemons' family and sister Iema Lemons, in a federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); attorney Lonnie Story (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His sister filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and his estate sued former Waupun warden Randall Hepp and two former state corrections officials, with a federal judge allowing two of five claims to proceed.
Sources (37)
- 'I think Waupun killed my dad': Family wants answers after jail death
- Second prisoner dies during Waupun Correctional Institution lockdown; restrictions linger at two additional prisons
- Second prisoner dies during Waupun Correctional Institution lockdown; restrictions linger at 2 additional prisons
- Second prisoner dies during Waupun Correctional Institution lockdown, while restrictions linger at two other prisons
- Third death reported at Waupun prison in four months
- Third death at Waupun prison reported
- Dodge County Medical Examiner says two Wisconsin inmates died of overdose, stroke
- Medical examiner says 2 Wisconsin inmates died of fentanyl overdose, stroke
- Third Waupun prison death ruled a stroke, with timing still under investigation
- Federal authorities complete investigation into Waupun Correctional Institution
- What we know about the 55 people who died inside Wisconsin prisons last year
- Press conference June 3, 2024, regarding death investigations at Waupun Correctional Institution | By Sheriff Dale Schmidt
- Wisconsin prison warden, 8 staff charged as sheriff minces no words
- Wisconsin warden, 8 other staffers face criminal charges in inmate deaths
- Waupun warden, eight others, charged with crimes over inmate deaths
- Wisconsin warden and 8 staff members charged following probes into inmate deaths
- Former Waupun prison warden and employees charged in prisoner deaths
- 9 charged, including warden, in deaths at Waupun Correctional Institution
- Waupun warden, 8 staff members charged following probes into inmate deaths
- Waupun warden and 8 staff members charged after prison death probe
- Wisconsin warden and eight staff members charged following probes into inmate deaths
- Waupun warden, staff charged following inmate deaths
- Wisconsin warden, 8 staff members charged following investigation into inmate deaths
- Waupun prison warden, eight staff members charged following probes into inmate deaths
- Waupun warden and eight staff members charged after probes into inmate deaths
- Wisconsin warden, 8 staff members charged following probes into inmate deaths
- Relatives of inmates who died in Wisconsin prison shocked guards weren't charged in their cases
- Relatives of inmates who died in Waupun prison shocked charges aren't being filed in their cases
- Family accuses prison officials of 'deliberate indifference' in lawsuit over Waupun overdose death
- Relatives of inmates who died in Waupun prison shocked no charges filed in their cases
- What we know about the charges against 9 Waupun employees, alleging abuse of prisoners
- Capital City Sunday: Family attorney talks about investigation of inmate's death at Waupun, presidential debate preview, Center for Black Excellence and Culture breaks ground
- Waupun Correctional Institution whistleblower speaks on inmate's death
- 2 Waupun prison staff members plead not guilty to abuse in prisoner deaths - The Post-Crescent
- Timeline of events at troubled Waupun Correctional Institution
- Mother of dead Waupun prison inmate files federal lawsuit
- Court lets lawsuit proceed against former Waupun warden, DOC leaders for inmate’s death