In a significant legal development, the family of an inmate who passed away due to dehydration and malnutrition in Wisconsin’s oldest maximum-security prison has opted to pursue a federal lawsuit. This marks the fourth filing by relatives of prisoners who have died at the notorious facility since the beginning of 2023.
Jeanette Maier, the mother of the deceased inmate, Donald Maier, initiated the legal proceedings in a federal court in Milwaukee. The lawsuit accuses the Waupun Correctional Institution of subjecting her son to inhumane and severe punishment. The allegations include a range of defendants such as the Secretary of the state Department of Corrections, Jared Hoy, the former warden of Waupun, Randall Hepp, and several staff members from the prison. The lawsuit seeks damages, although the specific amount is not yet disclosed.
While the spokesperson from the Department of Corrections, Kevin Hoffman, opted not to comment on the case, citing the ongoing nature of the litigation, the attorney for Hepp, Michael Steinle, has yet to respond to inquiries. Notably, Donald Maier was discovered deceased in his cell in February 2024. The medical examination reports indicated that dehydration and malnutrition were the causes of his death.
Investigations reveal troubling details: guards had repeatedly shut off the water supply to Maier’s cell after an incident where he flooded it. This critical detail went undocumented, which is a direct violation of prison protocols, according to the lawsuit from Jeanette Maier. Additionally, the staff failed to communicate when the water was restored and did not offer water to Maier themselves. Moreover, despite being recognized by the Department of Corrections as having a serious mental illness, Maier was reportedly not given his medication.
Staffing deficiencies at Waupun have compounded these problems, leading to worker exhaustion and resentment towards inmates requiring assistance, the lawsuit claims. Established in 1854, this facility has faced escalating issues over recent years. A federal class-action lawsuit had been initiated by inmates in October 2023, citing inhumane conditions. However, it was later withdrawn in August 2024 as a judge found most plaintiffs had not completed an internal grievance process.
Since 2023, Waupun has seen seven inmate deaths, including Maier. Families of three other inmates—Cameron Williams, Dean Hoffman, and Tyshun Lemons—lodged federal lawsuits last year which remain unresolved. The circumstances surrounding these deaths are troubling: Williams died from a stroke after allegedly being ignored despite severe symptoms, Hoffman committed suicide reportedly due to a lack of mental health support, and Lemons succumbed to a fentanyl overdose, raising concerns about drug smuggling within the prison.
Federal authorities have been investigating alleged smuggling activities at Waupun, leading to charges against at least one former employee. This individual confessed to facilitating the entry of contraband like drugs and cellphones in exchange for money. Hepp, the former prison warden, faced felony charges linked to Maier’s death but reached a plea deal, accepting a misdemeanor charge and a $500 fine.
Additionally, eight Waupun staff members faced charges regarding abuse or misconduct related to the deaths of Maier or Williams. Although charges were dropped against one, and another was fined, other cases remain unresolved. This ongoing saga highlights significant operational and management challenges within the facility.