Greene County, Arkansas – Nine employees at the Greene County Detention Center have been fired following an independent investigation into the death of an 18-year-old inmate, according to Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder.
The inmate, Atiyanna Willis, died on Sept. 22 after experiencing a medical emergency while in custody at the Greene County Detention Center. The circumstances surrounding the death prompted the sheriff’s office to seek an outside investigation into what happened inside the jail.
Sheriff Snyder asked the Arkansas State Police to conduct an independent investigation following the incident. The review is still ongoing, and officials have not released additional details about the medical emergency or the specific actions that led to the termination of the nine employees.
According to Snyder, the initial review found that nine jail employees did not meet the standards he had established for the detention center. The employees were subsequently fired.
The sheriff also ordered immediate retraining for every employee working at the jail. The move applies across the detention center as officials continue to review the circumstances surrounding Willis’ death.
The decision to involve Arkansas State Police means the investigation is being handled independently from the Greene County Detention Center. The state police investigation remains active, while an autopsy is also still underway.
Sheriff Snyder said both processes will continue as authorities work to establish a clearer understanding of what happened before and during the medical emergency.
The death of Willis, who was only 18 years old, has brought increased attention to the procedures and standards followed inside the Greene County jail. However, officials have not yet released a detailed account of the events leading up to her death.
At this point, authorities have confirmed the employee terminations and the retraining order, but the ongoing investigation and autopsy could provide additional information.
Snyder said the Arkansas State Police investigation and the autopsy are still underway. Further details are expected as those processes move forward.
For now, the Greene County Detention Center is undergoing retraining for its entire staff following the initial findings, while state investigators continue examining the circumstances of Willis’ death.
Tighten repetitive investigation detailsClarify the firing investigation timeline
