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Woodard, Ylitha L
Status: active
Profile written August 2, 2026
This profile reflects positional accountability — this individual held the leadership roles shown during the dates shown, during which the listed deaths or lawsuits occurred. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding of personal culpability for any specific incident.
Tenure Summary
Ylitha L. Woodard began her career with the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2013 as a financial operations generalist at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison, and spent over a decade in a series of financial‑staff roles before being promoted into facility leadership. In November 2024, Woodard became Deputy Warden of Administration at Rutledge State Prison, a position that placed her in the facility’s deputy warden accountability tier. GPS records attribute six deaths to her leadership tenure at Rutledge. No lawsuits name Woodard as a defendant.What happened on their watch
Rutledge State Prison (deputy warden, November 2024–present). During Woodard’s time in this role, GPS records document six in‑custody deaths. On December 29, 2024, Joe Payne, 73, died a cause not publicly specified by the agency. William Edward Houston, 75, died on April 10, 2025, also without a publicly stated cause. Alan Thomas Bryant, 46, died on June 1, 2025; his death was attributed to natural causes per GPS records. Brandon Keith Bolden, 37, died on June 15, 2025; the death was recorded as a homicide. Jonathan Lloyd Myers, 38, died on May 3, 2026, and Alterek Mance Dockery, 49, died on June 14, 2026; causes for these two deaths remain pending public disclosure.While Woodard held the deputy warden post, the Atlanta Journal‑Constitution reported two allegations touching Rutledge. In January 2025, a lawsuit filed by the sister of Curtis Mincey alleged that Mincey, who died at the facility, suffered from a mental illness but did not receive appropriate medical or psychological assistance. Separately, a 2026 AJC article described a case in which Sergeant Erika Hall allegedly admitted to providing prisoners with cellphones, chargers, tobacco, and food in exchange for money on at least six occasions, pointing to contraband issues inside the prison.
Sources
- Georgia Prisoners’ Speak intelligence records — death totals and decedent details for Rutledge State Prison during Woodard’s deputy warden assignments
- Atlanta Journal‑Constitution — “Ga. prison homicides: A list of those killed in Georgia’s prison system” (allegation regarding Curtis Mincey’s medical/psychological care)
- Atlanta Journal‑Constitution — “Seven officers arrested in Operation Skyhawk accused in contraband scheme run by Valdosta prisoner” (allegation regarding Sergeant Hall’s admissions)
Positions Held
| Title | Facility | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| DEPUTY WARDEN | RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON | 2025-01-01 → present |
| Deputy Warden of Administration | RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON | 2024-11-16 → present |
| ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN 3 | 2024-01-01 → 2024-11-15 | |
| FINANCIAL OPS GENERALIST 3 | 2018-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | |
| FINANCIAL OPS GENERALIST 2 | GEORGIA DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION STATE PRISON | 2016-01-01 → 2017-12-31 |
| FINANCIAL OPS GEN (AL) | 2015-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | |
| Financial Operations Generalist | GEORGIA DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION STATE PRISON | 2013-01-01 → 2013-12-31 |
Deaths attributed during tenure
6 people died at facilities under Woodard, Ylitha L's leadership.
| Date | Decedent | Age | Facility | Role at time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | ALTEREK MANCE DOCKERY | 49 | RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2026-05-03 | JONATHAN LLOYD MYERS | 38 | RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2025-06-15 | BRANDON KEITH BOLDEN | 37 | RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2025-06-01 | ALAN THOMAS BRYANT | 46 | RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2025-04-10 | WILLIAM EDWARD HOUSTON | 75 | RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON | DEPUTY WARDEN |
| 2024-12-29 | JOE PAYNE | 73 | RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON | Deputy Warden of Administration |
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