Report: Death of Wallens Ridge inmate in June ruled a homicide

Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brett Hall told a CBS affiliate in Richmond that the death of an inmate at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap remains under investigation.

The report said the State Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the June 5th, 2025 death of 27-year-old Aubrey McKay a homicide. A fellow prisoner at the supermax facility whose cell was next to McKay’s told WTVR that he witnessed one of the Wallens Ridge guards place McKay in a headlock then a dog pile of other officers landed on McKay, crushing his throat.

The death report said multifactoral asphyxia was caused by the incident. McKay was reportedly only five weeks away from being released after serving time for an aggravated malicious wounding charge.