Ward County Jail inmate dies after being rushed to hospital

A 26-year-old man who was in custody at the Ward County Jail has passed away, days after being rushed to Trinity Hospital Sunday morning for an undisclosed medical condition.

The Ward County Sheriff’s Department declined to release the man’s name out of respect for the family, though the mother of Oscar Wilkie III has confirmed that they took him off of life support Wednesday afternoon.

According to the department, the man’s cell mate pushed the cell’s emergency button at 9:29 a.m. Sunday.

Corrections officers immediately responded and provided first aid to the man, before paramedics rushed him to the Trinity ER around 9:45 a.m.

Officials had arrested Wilkie last Thursday afternoon on a series of outstanding warrants. At the time of his arrest, the department said he appeared to be in ‘good physical condition.’

Ward County Sheriff Bob Barnard also said that the corrections officers monitor the inmates with surveillance cameras and check each cell every hour.

The department was unable to speak further on the man’s condition once he was transported to the hospital.

The family says his body has been sent to the state coroner for an autopsy.

Court records indicate that Wilkie had two separate drug-related case files open in North Central District Court.

We will have more information as it becomes available.

Photo courtesy: Dawn Wilkie