A Seaford man that was serving a 12 year sentence for making bomb threats to schools died in prison last week.
Officials said on Thursday, 49-Year-Old David Detwiler died at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC) in Smyrna.
At approximately 6:51 p.m. on Thursday, Detwiler was walking between buildings on the prison compound when he suddenly lost consciousness and fell to the ground. The incident was observed by prison staff, leading to the immediate issuance of a medical alert. Correctional Officers, joined by facility medical staff, initiated life-saving measures at the scene.
Detwiler was transported to the prison infirmary, and Emergency Medical Services Paramedics were called to provide additional life-saving measures. Despite these efforts, Detwiler was pronounced dead at 7:33 p.m. on Thursday, August 17, at the JTVCC infirmary.
Detwiler, who officials said had a history of chronic illness, had been in DOC custody since 2015, serving a 12-year prison sentence for Terroristic Threatening.
In 2012, Detwiler was charged with two felony counts related to bomb threats made to educational institutions in Georgetown. The targets of the threats were Georgetown Elementary School and Howard T. Ennis School.
Detwiler, a bus driver for the Indian River School District, was let go after he was arrested. He was later charged with arson after a school bus was set ablaze officials said at the time.
Later in June of 2014, Detwiler was arrested in relation to a bomb threat at Delaware Technical and Community College Owens Campus in Georgetown. Law enforcement authorities said at the time that they initiated their investigation based on information provided by a probation and parole office.
On Thursday, Delaware State Police were contacted and arrived at JTVCC to conduct an independent death investigation. Detwiler’s body was later turned over to the Division of Forensic Science for further examination to determine the cause of death.