Families of Deceased Inmates Express Shock Over Lack of Charges Against Guards in Wisconsin Prison Deaths

Relatives of two inmates who died in an aging maximum security prison in Wisconsin are surprised that prosecutors have not brought charges in their cases after pursuing many counts against the warden and other prison workers in connection with the deaths of two other inmates.

Four convicts have died at Waupun Correctional Institution in the past year. On Wednesday, authorities charged Warden Randall Hepp and eight of his staff members with misbehavior and abuse in the deaths of two convicts, Cameron Williams and Donald Maier. The accusations have renewed debate over prisoner mistreatment, chronic guard shortages throughout the state prison system, and whether the state should replace Waupun and another prison in Green Bay. Both institutions were constructed in the 1800s.

Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will declined to charge anyone in the deaths of Dean Hoffmann, who committed suicide in solitary prison in June 2023, and Tyshun Lemons, who died from a fentanyl overdose in October.

“I’m outraged,” Lemons’ sister, Iema Lemons, declared. “I got much more upset yesterday. With a lot of prayer, I’m feeling a little better today.”

Megan Kolb, Hoffmann’s daughter, said she was “ecstatic” to hear that authorities were likely to press charges in connection with the murders of Waupun inmates.

She experienced “major anxiety” Wednesday morning before seeing Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt’s afternoon news conference. She said she yelled when they announced the charges in connection with Williams and Maier’s deaths — “there was finally some accountability,” she said — but was upset when they indicated no one would be charged in her father’s case. She claimed that no one cared that he was suffering from mental illness, and no one assisted him.

“Mental health care isn’t looked at the same way as physical care,” Kolb stated. “No person in their right mind would do it. “So, yes, I am disappointed.”

Officials from the State Department of Corrections did not immediately respond inquiries on Friday. Robert Webb, Hepp’s attorney, said his office was reviewing the charges but declined to comment further.

According to court accusations, Williams died of a stroke on October 29, but his body was not discovered until late the next morning, at least 12 hours later. The nurse, sergeant, and lieutenant responsible with his death allegedly did not check on him that night.

Maier died on February 22 from dehydration and starvation, according to the accusations. He had severe mental health issues but either refused or did not receive his medicine in the eight days preceding up to his death. Guards informed investigators that he had flooded his cell, so they shut off the water. Prosecutors also claimed that Maier went without food for four days before his death. Hepp was charged with criminal misconduct in public office in relation to the killing.

Separately, Schmidt stated at his news conference that Hoffman did not receive any medication in the three days preceding his death, but investigators were unable to identify whether workers did not give him any or if he refused to take it.

Schmidt described the documentation of Hoffmann’s drug distribution as “vastly inaccurate.” Staffers violated policies, he stated, but none of the offenses were criminal in nature.

Schmidt said there was no evidence of staff malfeasance in Lemons’ death, but investigators are concerned about pervasive contraband smuggling at the facility. Waupun has been on lockdown since March 2023 owing to guard shortages.

Schmidt’s inquiry into the fatalities is concluded, but an internal state Department of Corrections investigation continues. The US Department of Justice is also investigating allegations of prison personnel transporting contraband into the facility.

Kolb said she is still angry despite the fact that Hoffmann died about a year ago. She filed a federal wrongful death complaint in February, claiming that Waupun employees, including Hepp, failed to provide her father with sufficient mental health care and medications.

“If you’re not going to do your job and you’re going to torture and neglect the people in their care, that’s just as bad as the crimes people are doing to get in there,” she continued. “I don’t know why they think they’re the judge and jury and can determine how these people live their lives.”

Lemons’ sister filed a federal wrongful death complaint on Thursday, one day after charges in Maier and Williams’ deaths were announced, alleging that the state Department of Corrections failed to prevent illegal substances from entering Waupun.

“They don’t care about the folks there. They are not treating them with decency. “It’s just disgusting,” she explained. “I think they should tear it down. They need to start afresh under new leadership. They need to empty the entire garbage container.