WICHITA, KAN. – Wichita Work Release Facility (WWRF) resident Joshua Degroot, 44, died Thursday, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Degroot was serving a 44-month sentence for two convictions of aggravated battery in Leavenworth County, Kansas. He had nearly a dozen previous convictions including three for kidnapping, theft, burglary, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, harassment by telephone, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Degroot was found unresponsive at his workplace in the Wichita community. EMS was called to administer life-saving measures. Coworkers performed life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services 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 KDOC. The investigation is ongoing.
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 in making a successful transition from the institutional environment back into society.