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Inmate charged with child sex crimes found unresponsive in Kansas jail

A closeup of the locking mechanism of an open jail cell with welded iron bars on a dimly lit dark background
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Key Takeaways

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  • Jail staff found inmate Joshua Ledbetter unresponsive during a safety check.
  • Ledbetter faced child solicitation charges and was due in court again Wednesday.
  • Officials do not suspect foul play; coroner will determine the official cause of death.

A 41-year-old Hutchinson man was found dead Tuesday morning at the Reno County Correctional Facility when staff conducted a routine safety check of inmates, the Reno County Sheriff’s Office said.

Joshua Caleb Ledbetter, who had been at the facility since April 30 on charges of electronic solicitation of a child and indecent solicitation of a child, was due again in court Wednesday, according to the sheriff’s office and court records. He was found unresponsive at 1:43 a.m. Tuesday.

“Currently, there is no indication of foul play,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release, adding the official cause of death will be determined by the coroner’s office.

This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 10:51 AM.

MS
Michael Stavola
The Wichita Eagle
Michael Stavola is a former journalist for The Eagle.
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