(WICHITA, Kan.) The Wichita Work Release Facility (WWRF) in Wichita, Kansas, reported that a resident had died while in custody on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

According to the WWRF statement, resident Joshua Degroot, 44, was found unresponsive in his workplace in the the WWRF.

EMS was called to administer life-saving measures and co-workers performed life-saving measures immediately and continued after EMS arrived but were unsuccessful.

The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Degroot's death is being investigated by the Wichita Police Department with assistance from the Kansas Department of Corrections, the investigation is ongoing.

Degroot was serving a 44-month sentence for two convictions of Aggravated Battery from Leavenworth County, Kan.

The WWRF is a minimum-custody work release facility with a capacity of 250 male residents.

The purpose of the work release program is to prepare selected residents for release and to assist them and to assist them in making a successful transition from the institutional environment back into society.

KQ2 will release more information as it becomes available.