Feb 13, 2024

Kan. inmate jailed for child sex crime allegations has died

Posted Feb 13, 2024 2:00 AM
PETERSON-photo Sedgwick County
PETERSON-photo Sedgwick County

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas county jail inmate with a history of health issue died on Sunday.

On January 28, EMS transported a Sedgwick County inmate to a local hospital  due to chronic medical problems, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

The 36-year-old inmate identified as Kelly Junius Peterson, according to Sedgwick County booking records, was being evaluated by the Detention Facility Medical Clinic for the past three years after reporting difficulties with his chronic medical issues to jail medical staff. He was hospitalized for a total of 25 times since his arrest in October of 2020 on felony charges of Criminal Sodomy, Aggravated Indecent Liberties and Sexual Exploitation of a child.

He was hospitalized eight times in 2023.

The hospital staff had been attempting to treat Peterson, but his condition had a very small chance of survival.  Based on medical advice, on February 8, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office contacted Peterson's family and made accommodations for them to visit him.

Just before 5:30p.m. Sunday Peterson was pronounced deceased. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Investigation Division were notified.