Lincoln Hills youth prison employee dies after attack on inmate

IRMA, WI – One of two staff members attacked by an inmate at the Lincoln Hills Juvenile Detention Center in northern Wisconsin on Monday has died.

Lincoln County Coroner Valerie Caylor reports that a 49-year-old prison employee was declared brain dead after his head hit the concrete as a result of the attack. A second prison employee, a 25-year-old woman, was released from the hospital earlier this week.

The 16-year-old inmate allegedly attacked the staff member after they returned to a dormitory following an outdoor recreational visit. They later also attacked the 49-year-old man.

Caylor told WTMJ that the 49-year-old employee’s family is seeking organ donation. A full autopsy is expected in a few weeks.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office will release more information about the attack later today.

Lincoln Hills has been the subject of numerous lawsuits and allegations of abuse in recent years, alleging excessive use of pepper spray, strip searches and restraints against inmates. In 2018, then-Governor Scott Walker unveiled plans to convert the prison into a facility for adult inmates, but those plans were not implemented.

This is a breaking news story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.