Update at 10:27 p.m., Sept. 30, 2026: Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder announced via a video statement that nine employees have been terminated from the jail as a result of the investigation into Willis’s death. Training for current employees will also be provided.
Update at 3:52 p.m. Sept. 23, 2026: Nick Genty, ASP deputy communications director, told JRN that the agency identified the inmate as 18-year-old Atiyana Willis, of Forrest City. He could not provide any further details at this time as the investigation continues.
K8 News reported that Willis was arrested Sept. 8 for failing to appear on a theft by receiving-firearm charge. ASP arrested her for the charge on July 10 while investigating a hit-and-run in Jonesboro.
On July 20, JPD petitioned to have Willis involuntarily committed as a “mentally ill person,” and an order was signed on July 30 for a 45-day involuntary commitment.
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW:
Paragould, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Arkansas State Police (ASP) are investigating an inmate death that occurred at the Greene County Detention Center.
On Wednesday, Sheriff Brad Snyder said that at 11:16 a.m. Sept. 22., the inmate experienced an unspecified medical emergency.
According to a Facebook post, on-site medical staff and detention center personnel immediately began performing CPR and continued life-saving measures until fire and EMS crews arrived to take over the patient’s care.
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The inmate was taken to the emergency room at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Paragould, where they were officially declared deceased at 12:01 p.m.
The inmate’s identity has not been publicly released. Snyder confirmed that the inmate’s family and emergency contacts were notified of the death yesterday.
Following standard protocol for in-custody deaths, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office requested the ASP to conduct an independent investigation into the incident. An autopsy has also been requested and is currently pending.
Snyder said that further inquiries into the incident should be directed to the ASP Public Information Office at its headquarters in Little Rock.
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