John McAllister, a star of Netflix’s Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, has died in prison. He started a tattoo business while cameras filmed the show, in which inmates were given more freedom behind bars.
Known as Eastside on the Netflix series, McAllister became a fan favorite for his ability to make his co-stars laugh, and even had a business mind, as he wanted to share his passion for tattoos.
Eastside found dead in prison cell
Known as Eastside, John McAllister has been found dead at the age of 29, in his prison cell, weeks before he was due to be released. McAllister was found unresponsive in his cell at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on June 2.
He was pronounced dead after being taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center at 8.50am that day. Authorities ruled out foul play and self-harm in McAllister’s sudden death.
Over the span of a decade, John McAllister was serving time for multiple offenses including ten drug-related felonies, breaking and entering, theft, and unlawful firearm possession at the time of his death.
McAllister tattooed inmates on Netflix show Unlocked
Eastside wanted to start fresh after 14 jail terms. One way he showed his potential for success is by starting his own tattoo business on Unlocked, which included inking an inmate’s face.
While serving time at Pulaski County Regional Detention Center, McAllister was a popular inmate, and was soon transferred to Randall L Williams Correctional Facility, where he died.
He had been serving a three-year sentence at the time and only had 30 days to go until his release. A year ago, he was able to leave his cell and make his own choices within the facility on Unlocked.
Family launch memorial fundraiser
“His sudden passing has left our family devastated,” McAllister’s aunt, Melissa Regan, revealed on a GoFundMe fundraising page set up to cover the costs of his memorial service.
With a $15K target, at least $880 has been donated. The page wrote, “We are raising funds to cover the costs of memorial services and transportation, as our family is split between Omaha, NE, and Arkansas”.
If you’ve been affected by this story, you can contact American Addiction Centers on (877) 686-7688 or Talk To Frank on 0300 123 6600 in the UK.
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