by Andrew Kennard, Wisconsin Examiner
August 28, 2024 The Wisconsin Examiner’s Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation

Micah Laureano, a 19-year-old incarcerated at Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI) died Tuesday night following an incident involving his cellmate, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections told the Examiner.

Beth Hardtke, the department’s communications director, told the Examiner over email that no staff were injured, and the incident took place at 9:30 p.m. She said the institution is operating normally with all scheduled programming and activities. 

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office said the victim and suspected assailant, Jackson Vogel, 24, were cellmates and the incident happened in their cell. According to the sheriff, the victim was beyond help and pronounced dead at the scene, and the initial death investigation led to what is now being considered a homicide investigation.

Jordan Coombe, who is currently incarcerated at GBCI, said he observed the prison’s response to the incident. He thinks having single cells would cut down on conflict in the prison. 

“That’s what needs to happen here if they want things to change… less assaults will happen, less fights will happen, less everything,” Coombe said. “…I go to the shower, I go to rec. You rarely ever see issues. You see a lot of people getting pulled out of double cells and going up to segregation.”

Green Bay Correctional Institution returned to normal operations in late July. Incarcerated people say problems persist in the prison, the Examiner reported on August 20.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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