An inmate died in a Nebraska prison fire. That was just the first tragedy.

An inmate died in a Nebraska prison fire. That was just the first tragedy.

The prison in Tecumseh had long been a tinderbox when inmates started fires in their cells in 2023. This time, an inmate died. Months later, so did a deputy warden who faced discipline.

An inmate died in a Nebraska prison fire. That was just the first tragedy. - Flatwater Free Press

Content warning: This story discusses suicide. Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you or a loved one needs help. Jesse Spencer’s death on Oct. 5, 2023, sparked an internal review that questioned prison staff’s understanding of emergency response policies at Tecumseh — the site of numerous previous violent outbreaks — and made dozens of recommendations. It triggered a Nebraska State Patrol investigation and grand jury proceedings, with j…