A fifth inmate has died at the maximum security Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of 57-year-old inmate Christopher McDonald, who was found dead on Monday morning in what appears to be a suicide.
The sheriff’s department reported that prison staff responded swiftly and appropriately, providing medical aid in an attempt to save McDonald’s life. Sheriff Dale Schmidt stated that there was no additional information available at this time.
According to online court records, McDonald was sentenced in Waukesha County in 1993 to 999 years in prison for two counts of being a party to first-degree intentional homicide and an additional 16 years for robbery as a habitual criminal. The records do not specify whether the sentences were to be served consecutively or concurrently.
The Department of Corrections spokesperson, Kevin Hoffman, mentioned that no further details about McDonald’s death are available as the investigation continues.
This incident follows the recent charges against former warden Randall Hepp, who is set to appear in Dodge County Circuit Court. Hepp faces a felony charge of misconduct in office after an investigation into the deaths of two inmates at the prison since last year. These deaths, one from a stroke and the other from dehydration, led to charges of misconduct and inmate abuse against Hepp and eight members of his staff. Hepp retired in June, and no charges have been filed regarding the other two inmate deaths at Waupun within the past year.
The latest death has intensified scrutiny on Wisconsin’s prison system. A Senate committee is scheduled to hear testimony from the head of the state prison system, Department of Corrections Secretary Jared Hoy, as well as former prison guards and families of inmates. This hearing, taking place near the Lincoln Hills juvenile prison, aims to address systemic issues highlighted by families and former workers.
The Lincoln Hills juvenile facility has faced significant scrutiny and legal challenges over the years. In 2017, the state settled a lawsuit for over $25 million, and a federal judge appointed a monitor to oversee conditions at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake. Despite improvements reported by the monitor, issues persist.
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Two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, have been charged in connection with a fight at Lincoln Hills on June 24, which resulted in the death of counselor Corey Proulx, 49. According to criminal complaints, one of the inmates punched Proulx, causing him to fall and hit his head on concrete pavement.
