SEDGWICK COUNTY— The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are investigating the death of a Wichita man at the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.
Just before 1p.m. Wednesday, detention staff found the inmate, identified in booking records as 45-year-old Joseph Swarts, unconscious and not breathing in his cell. Additional detention staff and on-site medical personnel began life-saving efforts while the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS responded. Despite continued life-saving efforts, Swaarts was pronounced dead.
Swarts had been in custody since Oct. 19, on felony drug charges and a probation arrest-and-detain order.
Preliminary information indicates the death appears to be related to a medical condition. The official cause and manner of death will be determined following an autopsy.
Detectives and agents are conducting a full investigation. The inmate’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
This is the fifth in-custody death involving the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility in 2026.