Timothy Darnelle Gilliam Jr., 27
Wilkes-Barre , Pennsylvania
July 18, 2016
Agencies: Luzerne County Correctional Facility Pennsylvania
Cause of death: Not Yet Known
Last updated: over 5 years ago
Overview 
Luzerne County corrections officer Kristopher Moules and inmate Timothy Darnelle Gilliam Jr. smashed through a closed elevator door at the county prison and fell several floors down the elevator shaft to their deaths Monday night, July 18, 2016 according to county Manager C. David Pedri.
Describing the situation as a “freak accident,” Pedri said at a news conference that “something happened” to cause the door to jump off its track and open. He said the county has retained a state expert to identify the problem, and he promised to publicly release the expert’s findings and implement any recommended corrective action.
Pedri said the elevator had a valid inspection certificate, and the state Department of Labor and Industry conducted an inspection of the elevator in April and found only a minor “housekeeping” deficiency that was corrected by staff. An outside contractor also completed a load test of the elevator on July 14, Pedri said.
Additional Resources:
- https://www.facebook.com/KilledByPolice/posts/1306831176011683 added July 21, 2016 10:22
- https://timesleader.com/news/567100/officials-luzerne-county-prison-guard-inmate-fell-to-their-deaths added July 21, 2016 10:22