PARAGOULD, Ark. — Greene County’s jail administrator and 11 other detention center employees were fired after the in-custody death of 18-year-old Atiyana Willis, according to personnel records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Jail administrator Jacob White and Lt. Bryan Alspaugh were among nine employees terminated on September 30. Three additional employees were dismissed on October 14, though their terminations were not publicly announced until October 19, documents show. Greene County Sheriff Steve Snyder said the dismissals follow an internal investigation into staff failures.
Willis died on September 22 at the Greene County Detention Center after suffering what officials have described as a medical emergency. Snyder previously stated that employees failed to provide adequate assistance and ordered enhanced training protocols for detention center staff.
In White’s termination letter dated September 30, Snyder wrote that multiple employees under White’s supervision violated department policies and procedures. "Your failure to adequately supervise and enforce department procedures has caused me to lose faith and confidence in your ability to meet the expectations of this department," Snyder stated.
Alspaugh’s firing, as well as those of the 10 other employees, were attributed to similar workplace conduct that violated departmental policies. The termination letters did not specify the particular actions of each employee or clarify how their conduct might have related to Willis’ death. The released records include no autopsy findings or definitive conclusions about whether any employee’s actions directly contributed to Willis’ medical emergency.
The internal investigation also uncovered a prior incident involving Alspaugh on September 8. Records show that Alspaugh intervened to halt the transfer of a male inmate to a hospital despite a medical provider’s order. The inmate’s condition reportedly improved, but the decision to delay transport was deemed improper. Supervisors cited the facility's staffing shortages as a factor in the decision but determined that operational convenience could not override medical advice. It is unclear from Alspaugh’s termination letter if this earlier episode influenced his dismissal.
Katlynn Green, another of the terminated employees, had a history of disciplinary actions. Her personnel file indicates she received a two-day suspension in April for unauthorized personal phone use while on duty and another suspension in August for tardiness and attendance issues. The August disciplinary notice warned that further infractions could result in termination. However, Green’s termination letter provided no details on her final misconduct or whether those previous incidents impacted the decision.
The terminations come as Willis’ estate has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, accusing the detention center of inadequate medical care, supervision, and training. Greene County released the personnel records of the 12 terminated employees on November 2 in response to the FOIA request. The documents totaled 993 pages and included evaluations, disciplinary actions, and termination letters, with some records also showing favorable employee reviews and commendations.
Willis’ death and the employees’ terminations highlight ongoing scrutiny of detention center operations, with Sheriff Snyder emphasizing efforts to address systemic issues through additional staff training. No further updates on the lawsuit or any related investigations have been disclosed.