A Tri-State family says they are getting more questions than answers after Joshua Allen, an inmate at Lebanon Correctional Institution, was placed on life support following an alleged assault inside the prison earlier this week. His wife, Christine Allen, says it has been more than 24 hours since she last heard from him and that a fellow inmate contacted the family claiming Joshua was beaten in his cell. According to relatives, Allen was airlifted unconscious to Ohio State Medical Center, where doctors told them he had bleeding in his brain and that a monitor was placed to relieve swelling.
Family Says Attack Lasted More Than 15 Minutes
“Every second right now feels like a nightmare to our family,” Christine Allen said. Family members say a current inmate told them Joshua was attacked for more than 15 minutes before staff arranged for him to be flown to Columbus for treatment. The family says they are relying on that account while they wait for official details, as reported by FOX19.
ODRC Confirms Assault, State Patrol Investigating
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction told reporters that “there was an assault involving incarcerated individuals at Lebanon yesterday,” and said the incident resulted in one incarcerated person being transported to an outside hospital. The agency said the Ohio State Highway Patrol is now investigating. Meanwhile, the family says prison and hospital officials have not provided them with clear information about what happened inside Joshua’s cell or who was involved, according to FOX19.
Facility and Hospital Details
Lebanon Correctional Institution is a state prison in Warren County, with an official address of 3791 State Route 63 in Lebanon, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Family members say Allen was flown to Ohio State Medical Center in Columbus, part of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center system, where he is currently being treated. For facility information, see the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and for hospital details, see The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
What Comes Next
The state patrol’s investigation will determine what happened and whether criminal charges or administrative action are warranted, and the family says it plans to keep pushing for accountability while Joshua remains on life support. Past inspection reports from the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee have documented staffing shortfalls and periodic spikes in violence at Lebanon, a backdrop that advocacy voices say makes transparency crucial as officials probe this case, as detailed in a Correctional Institution Inspection Committee report.
