Four Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies resigned in lieu of termination, and three supervisors were suspended without pay following the death of 55-year-old inmate Essie Ward, according to the inmate death administrative investigation records.
Ward died on April 3, 2025, at Central County Jail. Her body remained unnoticed in her cell for up to 24 hours.
Ward was scheduled for a remote First Appearance Hearing on April 2, 2025. A court document noted a medical emergency and rescheduled it for April 3. However, no medical emergency was documented in her records or reported by on-duty deputies that day.
According to a news report by WTSP, deputies attempted life-saving measures when Ward was found unresponsive, but investigators believe she may have been deceased 18–24 hours before she was discovered.
Ward faced charges of resisting without violence and assault on a law enforcement officer from March 31, 2025.
We have reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for comment on this matter. Nothing further at this time.
SOURCE: INMATE DEATH ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATION RECORDS & WTSP NEWS REPORT
WTSP News Report: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/polk-deputies-resign-inmate-death-investigation/67-d95b4462-d2fd-4946-919f-df67fbb1831e
