911 Call Uncovers Final Moments Before Inmate’s Death

A recently obtained 911 recording offers a chilling look at the last moments of Elisha John Turpin, a 40-year-old inmate at the Wayne County Detention Center who later died after being rushed to the hospital. In the call, a detention center deputy urgently requests emergency responders, reporting that the inmate is ‘blue’ with a faint heartbeat. As the conversation unfolds, the deputy explains that jail staff were under surveillance or observation, but the details remain unclear. The dispatcher presses for information on whether Turpin is still breathing, with someone in the background noting he is ‘barely breathing’ and has a ‘faint pulse.’ When asked about CPR, the response is ‘no, not yet,’ though it’s uncertain if it was medically necessary or eventually performed. Wayne County Coroner Gordon Hicks confirmed that Turpin collapsed in custody and was pronounced dead at the hospital. His body has been sent for an autopsy, and Kentucky State Police are actively investigating to determine the cause of death. Court records show Turpin faced charges including fleeing police and drug trafficking, but these are unproven allegations. His obituary lists him as a resident of Monticello, with funeral services set for October 16. The detention center has not yet responded to requests for more details, leaving questions about the events leading up to the medical emergency unanswered.