A Milwaukee man accused in the jailhouse overdose death of his cellmate has vanished, and U.S. Marshals say they are now trying to track him down before anyone else gets hurt.
Authorities are looking for 37-year-old John Luckett, who faces a first-degree reckless homicide charge tied to his cellmate's fatal overdose. Luckett is described as about 5'8" and 160 pounds. Officials say he had previously posted bond on an earlier booking and then disappeared when the new homicide charge was filed.
According to FOX6 Milwaukee, Luckett was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail in May 2025 on gun charges. Just hours later, corrections staff found his cellmate in medical distress. That person later died. The criminal complaint alleges that when officers searched Luckett, they found five small bags of narcotics hidden in his underwear. Testing showed the substances contained cocaine and fentanyl. A U.S. Marshal told the station the evidence "clearly shows no remorse for the victim."
U.S. Marshals Seek Tips
The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force says a warrant has been issued for Luckett's arrest and that investigators believe he is still in the Milwaukee area. The agency's Marshals' Eastern District of Wisconsin office lists its Milwaukee tip line at (414) 297-3707 and says callers can remain anonymous.
Officials are urging anyone who thinks they may have seen Luckett to call that number rather than confront him directly.
What The Charge Means
The homicide case against Luckett is filed under Wisconsin's first-degree reckless homicide statute. That law covers situations in which someone "recklessly causes the death of another human being under circumstances which show utter disregard for human life." It is treated as a major felony under state law and includes a specific provision for deaths that result from the manufacture, distribution or delivery of controlled substances. The full text and penalties are outlined in Wis. Stat. § 940.02.
Why This Matters Locally
Public-health data shows overdose deaths in Milwaukee County have dropped in recent years, but fentanyl is still a leading driver of fatal cases and can make any illicit drug supply far more dangerous. Milwaukee County recorded 387 fatal overdoses in 2025, down from 674 in 2022, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. The state has directed settlement funds toward naloxone, fentanyl test strips and other harm-reduction efforts.
The allegations in Luckett's criminal complaint highlight how those same lethal substances can slip behind bars and turn a shared jail cell into a deadly risk zone.
