Wisconsin prison staff turned off the water supply to inmate Donald Maier’s cell, leaving him to die from dehydration and malnutrition as officials ignored his deteriorating condition for days.
Key Takeaways
- Donald Maier, a 62-year-old inmate with serious mental illness, died from dehydration and malnutrition at Waupun Correctional Institution in February 2024.
- Prison guards allegedly cut off water to Maier’s cell and failed to provide alternative water sources, violating basic protocols.
- Former Warden Randall Hepp received only a $500 fine for his role in the negligence, despite initially facing felony misconduct charges.
- Waupun has become a center of inmate deaths with seven fatalities since 2023, leading to four wrongful death lawsuits from families.
- The Wisconsin prison system demonstrates a pattern of negligence with chronic understaffing, smuggling issues, and multiple staff members facing misconduct charges.
Mother Files Federal Lawsuit Over Son’s Preventable Death
Jeanette Maier has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and prison staff following the death of her son Donald at Waupun Correctional Institution. The lawsuit details how prison staff exhibited “deliberate indifference” to her son’s medical needs, allowing him to die from dehydration and malnutrition while in solitary confinement. This case represents the fourth lawsuit filed by families of inmates who have died at Wisconsin’s oldest maximum security prison since 2023, highlighting a disturbing pattern of neglect and abuse at the troubled facility.
The legal action names numerous defendants including Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Jared Hoy, former Warden Randall Hepp, and multiple staff members who allegedly played roles in the deadly negligence. Investigators discovered that guards frequently shut off water to Maier’s cell because he had flooded it, but then failed to follow protocols that would ensure the prisoner had adequate drinking water. More disturbingly, the lawsuit claims staff neither documented when water was shut off nor informed Maier when it was restored.
Criminal Charges Reduced to Mere Fine
Despite the severity of the negligence that led to Maier’s death, the accountability for prison leadership has been minimal. Former Warden Randall Hepp initially faced felony misconduct charges for his role in the death but ultimately received only a misdemeanor conviction and a $500 fine. This lenient punishment has outraged Maier’s family, who view it as completely inadequate given the fatal consequences of the institution’s failures. The reduction in charges represents a troubling reluctance to hold prison officials fully accountable for their actions.
“slap on the wrist,” said Jeanette Maier, mother of the deceased inmate.
The lawsuit further alleges that Hepp was fully aware of serious institutional problems at Waupun, including chronic understaffing and lack of proper training, which created substantial risks to inmates. Rather than addressing these systemic issues, the prison administration allegedly allowed conditions to deteriorate to the point where basic human needs like water and medical care were routinely denied. Eight Waupun staffers have been charged with abuse or misconduct related to Maier’s death or the death of another inmate.
Pattern of Negligence at Wisconsin’s Oldest Prison
Waupun Correctional Institution has become synonymous with institutional failure in Wisconsin’s prison system. At least seven inmates have died at the facility since 2023, with multiple deaths still under investigation. The prison, which has been operational since 1854, faces allegations of widespread understaffing that has left workers exhausted and resentful. These conditions have created a perfect storm of negligence where vulnerable inmates, particularly those with mental health issues like Donald Maier, receive inadequate care and monitoring.
“MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The mother of an inmate who died of dehydration and malnutrition at Wisconsin’s oldest maximum security prison last year has filed a federal lawsuit, marking the fourth action brought by relatives of inmates who have died at the troubled institution since 2023,” shared in Associated Press.
Making matters worse, federal investigators are currently probing smuggling operations at Waupun, with at least one former employee already pleading guilty to involvement. When contacted about the lawsuit, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections declined to address the serious allegations. “Corrections spokesperson Kevin Hoffman declined to comment, saying the agency typically doesn’t speak publicly about pending litigation,” said Kevin Hoffman, prison spokesperson.
The disturbing situation at Waupun represents a larger pattern of dysfunction in correctional facilities nationwide, where understaffing and poor conditions often lead to preventable tragedies. President Trump has consistently advocated for stronger accountability and reform in government institutions like these, where bureaucratic failure and negligence have fatal consequences. Maier’s family is seeking damages, attorney fees, and a jury trial in a case that highlights how government institutions can fail their most basic obligations when proper oversight is absent.
