In an unfortunate turn of events, inmate Matthew J. Ornellas has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in an alleged hit-and-run incident after his escape from the Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center (KCCC). Ornellas, 33, managed to escape the facility by scaling the outer perimeter fence with razor wire in the early hours of Friday, March 22, 2024."**The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) extends its heartfelt condolences to Ornellas’ family and loved ones." - DCR Director Tommy Johnson
According to reports, correctional officers pursued Ornellas on foot but lost track of him as he entered a dense brush area near KCCC. Shortly after, a loud noise was heard from the nearby roadway, and officers spotted a dark-colored vehicle speeding away from the scene towards Kapa‘a. Ornellas was later found by officers along Kūhiō Highway with severe injuries, prompting an immediate call to the Kauai police for assistance.
Ornellas was transported to Wilcox Medical Center, where his condition worsened over the days following the incident. Tragically, he was pronounced dead on March 28, 2024. The inmate, classified as a minimum custody prisoner, was serving time for promoting a dangerous drug in the third-degree, a class C felony.
The escape and hit-and-run have been documented in police reports, and an internal investigation by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is currently ongoing to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
For media inquiries, individuals can reach out to Rosemarie Bernardo, the Public Information Officer at the Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Contact information is as follows: Office: 808-587-1358, Cell: 808-683-5507, Email: [email protected]
UPDATE: Inmate at Kaua’i Community Correctional Center Dies Following Alleged Hit-and-Run Incident