The demise of a person at Waupun Correctional Establishment final October has been dominated an unintentional drug overdose, in step with a clinical examiner’s decision launched Tuesday.Tyshun Lemons, 30, died on Oct. 2, 2023 of “acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl toxicity,” Dodge County Scientific Examiner PJ Schoebel stated.Acetyl fentanyl is an artificial opioid very similar to fentanyl, in step with the Nationwide Institutes of Well being. Schoebel stated he does no longer know the way the medicine entered the jail.The Dodge County Sheriff’s Place of business has no longer closed its investigation into Lemons’ demise, which happened right through the ability’s monthslong lockdown duration that started in March of final yr.Lemons’ members of the family say they’ve issues in regards to the clinical examiner’s ruling and the way the medicine discovered their method into the maximum-security jail.
Lemons’ brother, Levi Lord, stated his brother had psychological well being problems, and is worried he can have overdosed on fentanyl deliberately. On the time of his demise, Lemons was once serving a 16-year jail sentence after being convicted of armed theft and first-degree recklessly endangering protection in 2014.Lord, 34, stated he first of all “did not imagine” his brother was once lifeless as a result of he had spoken to him simply two days previous.”I simply talked to him that Saturday,” Lord stated. “He stated, ‘I am gonna name you on Monday.'”The decision by no means got here.Lord described his brother as a being concerned, sensible and captivating particular person. He stated Lemons grew up at the south aspect of Milwaukee and attended Bay View Prime Faculty. The circle of relatives was once ready to carry a small party of lifestyles for him, however is left with many unanswered questions, in step with Lord.”I consider him on a daily basis,” Lord stated. “He is very much neglected.””I beloved him. Everyone beloved him. He was once being concerned, sensible, captivating. Had a grin that would illuminate a room. He was once brief however had the center of a lion,” Lord added. “He made everybody round him really feel welcome. He was once humorous. He was once only a spark to my lifestyles.”
Lemons’ circle of relatives is thinking about a lawsuit and is being represented via legal professional Lonnie Tale, who has filed two court cases towards the Wisconsin Division of Corrections in contemporary months, together with a category motion swimsuit claiming inhumane stipulations throughout the jail.The DOC declined to respond to questions on Lemons’ demise.”DOC management has no longer but won the general file from the Scientific Examiner, so we’d withhold remark till we’re ready to entirely evaluation its findings,” DOC spokesperson Kevin Hoffman stated.Waupun jail has recorded dozens of overdose incidents since 2020In circumstances of suspected opioid overdose, DOC personnel will administer Narcan or naloxone to opposite the consequences of the drug. Examples of opioids come with prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl.Between January 2020 and March 2023, the DOC reported 44 incidents involving prisoners at Waupun wherein Narcan or naloxone was once used. Throughout all its grownup correctional amenities, together with an unnamed supervised residing facility, the DOC reported 600 such incidents in the similar period of time.Lemons is one in every of 4 individuals who have died at Waupun, probably the most state’s 5 maximum-security prisons, within the final 8 months.Ultimate June, 60-year-old Dean Hoffmann died via suicide whilst in solitary confinement at Waupun. He was once the primary reported demise right through the lockdown. Hoffmann’s circle of relatives have since filed a lawsuit towards DOC alleging that correctional personnel didn’t administer Hoffmann his psychiatric drugs within the months main as much as his suicide.After protests from prisoner advocates, Gov. Tony Evers pledged in November to ease lockdown restrictions in state prisons and upload extra correctional personnel to lend a hand alleviate serious vacancies around the gadget.Past due final week, DOC Secretary Kevin Carr introduced his departure from the company. Carr’s successor has no longer been named.Touch Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or at vswales@gannett.com. Apply her on X @Vanessa_Swales. Drake Bentley may also be reached at 414-391-5647 or at dbentley1@gannett.com.
