BATON ROUGE — Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections leaders met today to discuss leadership changes at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (EHCC), along with addressing concerns over “unexpected deaths” at the center.
UWK has reported on a number of deaths at EHCC in recent months. In a previous report, the Department of Corrections said there were at least 15 unexpected deaths at EHCC in 2025, eight of them died between September and December. At the end of 2025, that number went up to 18 unexpected deaths, per the department.
A total of 33 inmates died unexpectedly in 2024.
Last year, the Louisiana Dept. Of Corrections acknowledged they had seen an “uptick in unexpected deaths” but could not verify an exact cause as toxicology results on some of the inmate deaths were pending. Extensive testing can take anywhere between 6-12 weeks, per the Iberville Parish Coroner’s Office.
At Monday’s press conference, the Department of Corrections said that “it is not accurate” that toxicology reports take months. When an inmate dies unexpectedly, an autopsy is requested. If that comes back showing drugs in the person’s system, then it is reported as a suspected overdose and more extensive testing is performed, per the department.
In 2025, Seth Smith, Chief of Prison Operations, said that of the 18 unexpected deaths total: 11 were natural causes, one was suicide, two were overdoses and four are still pending autopsy.
“Unexpected does not mean ‘overdose.’ I’m going to repeat that: unexpected does not mean’ overdose,'” said Department of Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott. He clarified that unexpected medical issues and suspected overdoses are all labeled unexpected deaths until an autopsy is completed.
“Legally, we are limited by HIPAA, due process of pending investigations, and privacy matters to discuss deaths and major prison incidents. This does not mean that we don’t care or that we’re not doing anything to prevent these incidents,” said Westcott at the conference.
Smith explained that the problem at Hunt is multi-fold. “First, I want to say that one preventable death is too many, and that no Warden or any prison administrator wants or ignores such deaths. Second, I want to say that Elayn Hunt Correctional Center is the most complex prison in the state,” Smith said.
He went on to say that Hunt houses inmates with the most health or mental health issues, and serves as the Department of Corrections’ primary intake facility. In addition, Hunt is one of three centers in Louisiana that holds life sentence inmates without a waiver.
Because of this, Smith said the majority of the deaths at the facility are natural causes.
Smith added that deaths at Louisiana’s correctional centers can be seen online. The most current data on the site is from 2024.
A problem of drugs
Over 70% of those incarcerated in Louisiana have substance abuse-related charges or face drug addictions, Smith and Westcott emphasized.
“We don’t allow drugs in prison. Drugs should not get in prison. But the reality is, there are drugs in all prisons. This is not a fact we just accept and move on,” Smith said.
Elayn Hunt’s new warden, Travis Day, provided the following breakdown of those incarcerated at the Hunt facility:
- 86% of the population is on medications.
- The average number of medications ordered per inmate is seven.
- Approximately 50 inmates are housed in what is considered a hospital setting.
- Around 140 are housed in a setting similar to a nursing home.
- 45% of inmates have mental health diagnoses.
- 70% of inmates are diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder.
Westcott elaborated that the drugs are a persistent issue and have changed over time. The drugs that inmates are able to access are much different than the drugs prisons used to be inundated with.
“Back then, it was marijuana and crack. Today, we’re dealing with a different animal. You’re talking about smoking Roach spray and dipping paper in bleach, along with meth, pills, fentanyl, synthetic marijuana and other pesticides,” he said.
To illustrate, Westcott showed the corner of a piece of paper, saying that inmates are able to get high off an amount that tiny, and that even that small of an amount can be deadly.
“That’s what we’re chasing right now, and that’s what we’re searching for. It’s a very different world than when I started in 1991,” he said.
Steps to move forward
In 2025, officials conducted seven multi-unit searches at Hunt, per the Department of Corrections. In these searches, a total of 418 officers and 39 canines were deployed from other facilities. The searches resulted in cell phones, weapons, and drugs being removed from the prison.
Officials also attempt to stop contraband from entering correctional facilities like Hunt through daily searches and body scanners. In late January, vehicle contraband searches were performed at Hunt and two other facilities. The searches resulted in multiple arrests, including of visitors.
“We steadily assess what we’re doing in this fight and make adjustments. The new warden and I’ve spent several hours looking at processes and making changes to tighten down on the areas we believe are the most likely routes,” Smith said.
In addition to these search processes, he added that the leadership is reviewing outside work crews and trustees and how they’re searched. Gov. Jeff Landry also approved increasing starting pay for cadets at Hunt and Louisiana State Penitentiary by $2/hour.
Department of Corrections Chief Mental Health Officer Shelley Edgerton recently assessed Hunt’s current programs and offered recommendations that have been or will be implemented, Smith continued.
“Substance abuse addicts are not magically cured just because they enter the walls of the jail, some will choose to do whatever or just ingest whatever, even if there are deadly consequences,” Westcott said.
Announced leadership changes
In April 2025, Keithe Turner was promoted to Head Warden of the correctional center. He is a retired United States Army veteran with 26 years of military service and over 30 years of experience. He turned in his resignation on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 for his retirement in February 2026.
“Warden Turner was making a difference at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center during his eight months that he was detailed into this new leadership role,” Westcott said. “But of course, where there is change, there is also those that resist change and some that want to keep up the status quo. And they want to be they want to disrupt things.”
At Monday’s press conference, the Department of Corrections announced that former Rayburn Correctional Center Warden Travis Day is taking over Turner’s role. In addition, Bobby “Jamie” Lee stepped into the role as Deputy Secretary and Tammy Grant was appointed Undersecretary.
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