An 82-year-old man has died behind bars at the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, and state police are now looking into what went wrong inside the troubled Indiana prison. The inmate, identified as Billy A. Wilson, was pronounced dead last Friday, and the Miami County coroner is set to perform an autopsy to determine how and why he died. The case is the latest in a growing series of fatalities linked to the facility.
State Police Open Criminal Probe
Detectives with the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division at the Peru post have launched a criminal investigation at the request of prison officials, according to WTHR. Investigators are working alongside the Miami County Coroner's Office and facility staff, reviewing records and collecting evidence. Authorities say they will not release a cause of death until after the autopsy is completed.
Recent Deaths And ICE Detainee Housing
The ACLU of Indiana reports that the state began housing federal immigration detainees at Miami Correctional Facility last October under a two-year agreement with ICE. In mid-February, 59-year-old ICE detainee Lorth Sim died at the prison, a death the Miami County coroner ruled was caused by cardiovascular disease, according to ABC57. In a separate incident, 55-year-old detainee Tuan Van Bui was found unresponsive and died on April 1, further intensifying scrutiny of conditions at the facility.
Violence And Charges At The Prison
Concerns about safety at Miami Correctional Facility predate Wilson’s death. Prosecutors have charged nine inmates in connection with a separate death at the prison last November, according to WRTV. That case, like Wilson’s, was referred to the Indiana State Police by prison officials for investigation.
Lawmakers And Advocates Demand Answers
After touring the facility, Rep. André Carson said detainees described delays in access to lawyers, slow or insufficient medical treatment, and inconsistent meals, as reported by WFYI. He also said that more urgent attention from staff might have saved a life, noting that better response to reported calls for help “could have prevented one of the deaths.”
What Investigators Say Comes Next
WTHR reports that the Indiana State Police opened the investigation into Wilson’s death last Friday, and that the coroner’s autopsy will determine the official cause and manner of death. Authorities have not announced any criminal charges related to Wilson’s case, and officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Community Reaction
The ACLU of Indiana has called for immediate transparency and independent oversight, saying the recent deaths “must be a turning point.” Local faith leaders and immigrant-rights advocates are pressing the state to end its contract with ICE and to publicly release the findings of all ongoing investigations into deaths at the prison.
