WCDC inmate's death under investigation

Oct. 3—[Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct the name of the facility.]

WILLIAMSBURG — Authorities are investigating the death of a Whitley County Detention Center inmate over the weekend.

On Saturday, 40-year-old Kyle Barton of Corbin was found unconscious with injuries that would result in his death.

Around 10 a.m. Saturday morning, the Barton family received a phone call from the Whitley County Detention Center advising that around 8 a.m. their son was found unconscious with injuries and taken to Baptist Health Corbin.

According to Lori Barton, Kyle's stepmother, the Corbin hospital sent Kyle to a Lexington hospital to hopefully receive surgery on his brain after what doctors told the family was blunt forced head trauma that could have happened intentionally or by accident.

Doctors could not perform any surgery due to Kyle being pronounced "brain dead," according to Mrs. Barton. Kyle Barton was pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn confirmed Kyle Barton's body showed signs of blunt force head trauma but couldn't release any more details on the severity.

The Barton family wants answers due to their speculation the incident was not by accident due to the injuries described to them, according to Mrs. Barton.

Kyle Barton had been lodged at the Whitley County Detention Center for 17 days, according to Mrs. Barton.

"Kyle really struggled with drugs," she said. "We were glad he was in jail and felt as if he would be safe in there. Unfortunately, we were wrong."

Lori Barton stated that they looked to Jailer Jason Wilson for some answers about what the cameras might have shown. Mrs. Barton reported Jailer Wilson responded in an apology with news that the camera in that area was not working at the time that the incident occurred.

Wilson commented on the cameras that failed to capture the footage in the cell the incident occurred.

"The camera was not and is not working at this time," Jailer Wilson said. "The camera has been out for approximately two weeks. We had contacted our camera company. We actually put a camera in for temporary use but the IP [internet protocol] address or something messed up on it and caused issues and had not been fixed yet."

According to Mrs. Barton, her stepson was being held in cell number 151 with 17 other men.

"I am just hoping that out of 17 men that was in there, someone will tell what happened," she said.

"The other inmates in the cell heard it," Wilson told The Times-Tribune.

Lieutenant Wayne Bird of the Whitley County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation and was conducting interviews on Monday.

"This is an ongoing death investigation and it's too early to tell anything," Lt. Bird said.

Mrs. Barton and the family have speculations on what could have happened but said she's trusting the local authorities to do their job and give their family some closure.

"We do not feel like this was a fall from his feet coming out of the bathrooms like we were originally told, especially from all the damage on the left side of his head," Lori Barton said. "We just want real answers from the investigation."

The Whitley County Sheriff's Department, Fayette County Coroner's office and Whitley County Detention Center is working together in the ongoing case.

Wilson reflected on what happened when Kyle Barton was found.

"As soon as we learn of the incident, they called for the ambulance and took him to Corbin and shortly thereafter he was flown to UK [Hospital]," Wilson said.

Mrs. Barton said she wants her son's story to be heard so someone might speak up with the missing piece of this tragic puzzle.

"We want this information out there," she said. "This is a small town. Maybe someone will know the smallest thing that can help us get answers on what happened to Kyle."

Jailer Wilson wants answers.

"We are working with the sheriff's department in any way we can. We want to know everything just the same as the family," Wilson said. "We want to help as much as we can and our thoughts and prayers are with the family."

The family invites the public to Kyle's visitation from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the O'Neil-Lawson Funeral Home in Corbin with his funeral scheduled to start at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.