Prestonsburg police investigate death in Floyd County Detention Center
By Ross C. Shurtleff
Prestonsburg Chief of Police
On Saturday, Nov. 29, at approximately 1 p.m., the Prestonsburg/Floyd County ECC received a 911 call from the Floyd County Detention Center that a male inmate, later identified as Jeffery Lumpkins, 39, originally of Hazard, had been found unresponsive from an apparent suicide attempt.
Prestonsburg Fire/EMS along with Sgt. Keegan S. Williams and Ptl. Jonathan Layne responded to the jail where they located jail staff performing CPR on Lumpkins. Lumpkins was transported to Highlands Regional ARH where he was later pronounced deceased despite the efforts of medical and jail staff.
Sgt. Williams notified Det. Dennis M. Hutchinson of the death, as is normal protocol, who responded to the scene. Statements of jail staff were obtained, and high-definition video surveillance of the cell were reviewed that indicated that the cause of Lumpkins’ death was, in fact, self-inflicted. Subsequently, a cellmate disclosed that Lumpkins had made suicidal ideations over the days prior to his death. Additionally, a statement from Lumpkins’ wife disclosed to investigators that they had been in a tumultuous relationship recently, and Lumpkins had made threats to harm himself to her.
Lumpkins was transported to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office where an autopsy was performed. Preliminary findings of the Medical Examiner are that Lumpkins’ death is consistent with suicide by hanging, and no other trauma was found. Toxicology is pending. There is absolutely no indication that foul play was involved.
Additionally, the Kentucky Department of Corrections was notified and is conducting a parallel and independent investigation.
The Prestonsburg Police Department is a full-service, 24-hour Law Enforcement Agency that routinely investigates criminal and non-criminal deaths. All Uniform Offense Reports are reviewed through multiple levels of supervision for quality assurance.
The case remains under investigation by Det. Dennis M. Hutchinson.