GREENE COUNTY, Ark. — Nine employees at the Greene County Detention Center have been dismissed following the death of 18-year-old Atiyanna Willis, Sheriff Brad Snyder announced Wednesday. Willis died on September 22 after experiencing a medical emergency while in custody.
In a public statement, Snyder said the firings followed his review of surveillance footage and documentation related to the incident. “What I have found angers me greatly,” Snyder said. “Every person in our custody deserves to be checked on, cared for, and treated with dignity. That’s the standard I set in this jail.”
Sheriff Snyder explained that staff failed to meet these standards by neglecting their responsibilities during Willis’ medical emergency. He also noted that the detention center has medical services available 24/7 but that jail staff had not provided the necessary assistance.
As of Wednesday night, Snyder said autopsy results had not yet been received, and the exact cause of Willis’ death remains under investigation. Arkansas State Police are conducting an independent inquiry at Snyder's request, while the sheriff’s office is performing an internal review of jail policies and procedures.
While the sheriff declined to provide specific details about the actions that led to the terminations, he confirmed that none of the dismissed employees were medical personnel. Medical care at the detention center is provided by Turn Key, a third-party contractor. Snyder said he had no indication that Turn Key staff played a role in the incident.
Asked about legal or procedural implications, Snyder reiterated the need for accountability in custody settings. “When we fail to assist someone experiencing a medical emergency, we fail that person. That is unacceptable,” he said.
The sheriff’s office has ordered immediate retraining for all jail employees to prevent similar incidents in the future. Snyder said additional details about the investigation may be released as early as Thursday, pending updates from investigators. In the meantime, he expressed sympathy to Willis’ family, stating, “I am truly heartbroken for her family.”
The Greene County Detention Center has faced scrutiny surrounding the incident as outside investigators work to determine whether the actions or inactions of jail staff contributed to Willis' death. The community awaits further information as both investigations continue to unfold.