The Kentucky State Police are actively investigating the death of 40-year-old Elisha J. Turpin of Monticello, who passed away following a medical emergency at the Wayne County Detention Center. According to state police, authorities were notified at approximately 7:30 a.m. on October 13, 2026, after Turpin was found unresponsive in his cell. Wayne County EMS transported him to the Wayne County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the Wayne County Coroner’s Office.
Wayne County Coroner Gordon Hicks stated that Turpin’s body was subsequently transferred to the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort to undergo an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. The ongoing investigation is being led by KSt. Police Detective Keegan Bray with assistance from local emergency personnel and detention center staff.