John McAllister has tragically passed away at the age of 29.
Affectionately known as ‘Eastside’, McAllister was a star of the Netflix series Unlocked: A Jail Experiment.
His humor and entrepreneurial spirit, showcased through starting a tattoo business during filming, endeared him to viewers.
It has been confirmed that McAllister died in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
After the saddening news of John McAllister’s passing, tributes have been pouring in.
One fan wrote, “Prayers go out to his family and those who loved him.”
Another agreed, “This is so heartbreaking.”
A third person commented, “I loved this show… prayers for his friends and family!”
McAllister was part of an innovative social experiment at Pulaski County Regional Detention Center, featured in Unlocked: A Jail Experiment. It was filmed last year.
The show involved detainees being allowed to move around their unit without direct supervision.
Arkansas sheriff Eric Higgins, the visionary behind Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, discussed his innovative approach to transforming the prison environment.
He told Netflix’s Tudum, “How do we make the facility safer, and what can we do to still hold them accountable but empower them at the same time?”
Speaking at an NAACP Q&A session in Jacksonville, Florida, Higgins emphasized, “I want to humanize people. I want to empower people to have an impact on their culture, environment, and community.”
The docuseries has faced criticism, with some questioning why the experiment was turned into a TV show.
Justice of the Peace Phil Stowers of District 13 expressed concerns to FOX16, stating, “It’s not a question as to whether or not the sheriff has the ability to try something out of the box, something new in the jail. The questions and concerns are why did that have to turn into a reality TV show?”
Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde also claimed he never approved the project and only learned about it when he saw the trailer, as reported by KNKX.
McAllister had numerous encounters with the law, reportedly serving 14 jail terms. At the time of his passing, he was incarcerated for drug-related felonies, breaking, theft, and unlawful firearm possession.
Despite his troubled past, he expressed a sincere desire to atone for his actions and start afresh.
Tragically, McAllister was just weeks away from his scheduled release at the time of his death.
His aunt, Melissa Regan, has created a GoFundMe page to support his memorial service.
The page’s description reads: “His sudden passing has left our family devastated.”
“We are raising funds to cover the costs of memorial services and transportation, as our family is split between Omaha, NE, and Arkansas.”
“We are currently planning his Celebration of Life, and details will be announced soon. We appreciate any support you can offer and ask that you keep our family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
“Thank you for your kindness and generosity.”
McAllister’s cousin, Melissa Schuman, shared her appreciation for the impact of the Unlocked series on their family.
“Our family would like to express our deepest gratitude for the Unlocked series.”
“For the first time, John took a hard look at his life and was willing to make changes to become a better person.”
“He was so excited to get out and start a new, better life for himself.”
“The series gave him the chance to grow, and for that, we are forever grateful. Thank you Netflix and Lucky 8 for making this happen.”
McAllister was discovered unresponsive in his cell and was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
As of now, no official cause of death has been confirmed. However, authorities do not suspect suicide or foul play, according to THV11.
If you enjoyed this story or article, make sure to share it with your beloved friends and follow Cat's Voice for more heartwarming content & Videos!
