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Donald Maier

Gender : Male

Age : 62

Race : White

Date : 01/31/2025

Location : Waupun Correctional Institution

City : Waupun

County : Dodge

State : Wisconsin

Agency : Wisconsin Department of Corrections

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Neglect

Event : Found dead in jail (solitary confinement)

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On January 31, 2025, 62-year-old Donald Maier died in solitary confinement at Waupun Correctional Institution after prison staff shut off water to his cell for nine days, allegedly to curb disruptive behavior. A federal lawsuit filed by Maier’s mother, Jeanette Maier, claims staff ignored his deteriorating physical and mental health, failing to document water shut-offs or provide water, constituting cruel and unusual punishment. He had been assaulted with a taser and was found naked and dead in solitary confinement. he had been gasping for water but water had been shut off as punishment by the jail. He died of dehydration due to the abuse. Former Warden Randall Hepp and nine staff members were charged in June 2024; Hepp pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor on April 28, 2025, paying a $500 fine. The lawsuit names Hepp, DOC Secretary Jared Hoy, and others, seeking unspecified damages. At least seven inmates, including Maier, have died at Waupun since 2023.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/madison/news/2025/04/30/lawsuit--waupun-prison--inmate-death--doc
https://www.wsaw.com/2025/05/01/mother-dead-inmate-sues-troubled-wisconsin-prison-where-7-have-died-since-2023/
https://www.wpr.org/deliberate-indifference-inmates-suffering-led-his-death-waupun-prison-lawsuit-says
https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-prison-warden-fine-inmate-death-waupun-0c8a3b7e7b2e4f7e9e9e7e9e9e9e9e9e
https://www.foxnews.com/us/wisconsin-prison-deaths-inmate-family-sues-alleging-deliberate-indifference
https://fox11online.com/news/crime/waupun-prison-warden-randall-hepp-jailed-death-investigations-lockdowns-dodge-county-dean-hoffman-tyshun-lemons-cameron-williams-donald-maier