What Happened to Elayn Hunt Correctional Center?
Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (EHCC) is a major state prison in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, serving as the primary intake facility for adult male offenders since 1979. In recent years, it has faced significant scrutiny and multiple leadership changes due to persistent issues with inmate deaths, widespread contraband, and allegations of staff misconduct, leading to intensified security measures and ongoing reform efforts as of mid-2026.
Quick Answer
Elayn Hunt Correctional Center continues to operate as a multi-security level state prison and the primary intake facility for adult male offenders in Louisiana. The facility has been under intense scrutiny since 2024 due to a high number of inmate deaths, pervasive drug contraband, and staff-related issues, leading to multiple warden changes and a concerted effort by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections to implement new leadership, enhance security, and combat the flow of illegal substances into the prison, with arrests of staff and visitors continuing into June 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Elayn Hunt Correctional Center Opens
Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (EHCC) opens in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, as a multi-security level institution for adult male inmates, designed to decentralize the state prison system.
Prison Cemetery Established
A prison cemetery opens at EHCC, serving as the burial site for unclaimed state prisoners.
Becomes Statewide Intake Center
EHCC becomes the sole reception and diagnostic center for all adult male offenders entering the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections system statewide.
Officer Alleges Rape Amid Security Failures
A female corrections officer files a lawsuit against the Louisiana Department of Corrections, alleging she was raped by an inmate due to dangerous work conditions, including chronic staffing shortages and broken cell doors.
Donnie Bordelon Appointed Warden
Donnie Bordelon is appointed Warden of Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, bringing nearly 21 years of correctional experience to the role.
WBRZ Reports Expose Drug Crisis
The WBRZ Investigative Unit begins reporting on significant drug problems and deteriorating conditions within EHCC, bringing widespread attention to the facility's issues.
Warden Bordelon Relieved of Duties
Warden Donnie Bordelon is relieved of his duties due to concerns over his oversight, including an investigation into an alleged inappropriate use of force incident. Edward "Dusty" Bickham is named interim warden.
Inmate Death and Alleged Beating
An inmate is stabbed to death by his cellmate, and another inmate is reportedly beaten by correctional officers for having a cell phone, further highlighting security failures and staff misconduct.
Keithe Turner Becomes Warden
Keithe Turner is promoted to Head Warden of EHCC, taking over leadership amidst ongoing challenges.
Adjacent Women's Facility Opens
A new, separate Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women opens adjacent to EHCC, solidifying EHCC's focus on housing only male inmates.
Series of Inmate Deaths Reported
Six unexpected inmate deaths occur at EHCC between September and December, raising alarms about conditions and drug-related issues within the facility.
Warden Turner Announces Retirement
Warden Keithe Turner announces his resignation, set to retire in February 2026, after only eight months in the role, amidst continued reports of inmate deaths and drug problems.
Travis Day Appointed Warden
Travis Day assumes the role of Warden of Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, with a mandate to address the facility's persistent challenges, including contraband and inmate deaths.
New Leadership Addresses Crisis
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections holds a press conference to introduce new leadership, including Warden Day, and outline intensified efforts to combat contraband and improve conditions at EHCC.
Officer Arrested for Contraband
A correctional officer, Juanya Spiller, is fired and arrested for attempting to bring contraband, including a loaded gun, onto prison grounds, underscoring ongoing efforts to curb internal corruption.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (EHCC), located in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, opened in 1979 as a multi-security level institution for adult male inmates. It quickly became a crucial part of Louisiana's correctional system, notably establishing a prison cemetery in January 2002 for unclaimed state prisoners. By 2010, EHCC expanded its role to become the sole reception and diagnostic center for all adult male offenders entering the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (DPS&C) system statewide, processing thousands of new commitments annually.
However, EHCC has been plagued by significant challenges and controversies, particularly in recent years. In July 2020, a female corrections officer filed a lawsuit against the DPS&C, alleging she was raped by an inmate due to a dangerous work environment characterized by chronic staffing shortages and broken cell doors, highlighting systemic security failures. Leadership at the facility has seen frequent changes, with Kirt Guerin appointed Warden in June 2021, only to be suspended in May 2022 for a DWI incident involving a state vehicle. Donnie Bordelon took over as Warden in August 2022.
Starting in August 2024, the WBRZ Investigative Unit began publishing extensive reports detailing severe drug problems and deteriorating conditions within EHCC, drawing significant public and governmental attention. This period saw a rapid escalation of issues, including an inmate being stabbed to death and another allegedly beaten by correctional officers in October 2024. In response to mounting concerns, Warden Bordelon was relieved of his duties in September 2024, with Edward "Dusty" Bickham serving as interim. The facility also saw a high number of inmate deaths, with 33 unexpected deaths reported in 2024 and 18 unexpected deaths in 2025, many linked to drug overdoses.
In April 2025, Keithe Turner was appointed Head Warden, but he resigned in December 2025, retiring in February 2026, after only eight months in the role, amidst continued reports of inmate deaths and rampant drug issues. In January 2026, Travis Day assumed the role of Warden, tasked with tackling the persistent challenges. The DPS&C held a press conference in February 2026, introducing new leadership and outlining intensified efforts to combat contraband, including increased searches, visitor denials, and arrests of staff and visitors. As of June 2026, EHCC remains a focal point for reform, with ongoing efforts to curb contraband. Recent events include the arrest of a former employee in May 2026 for inappropriate communication with an inmate, another former employee in June 2026 for attempting to provide iPhones to inmates, and a correctional officer on June 15, 2026, for bringing a loaded gun and other contraband onto prison grounds, underscoring the ongoing struggle to maintain security and integrity within the facility.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Elayn Hunt Correctional Center made different choices?