John “Eastside” McAllister, one of the prisoners featured in the Netflix documentary series Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, has died aged 29.
McAllister was only 30 days away from being released from Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility in Arkansas when he was found unresponsive in his cell on June 2.
He was pronounced dead after being taken to a medical centre in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
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A cause of death has not yet been determined.
McAllister was a fan favourite for viewers of the show, who enjoyed his sense of humour despite the bleak conditions he was living in.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by his aunt Melissa to pay for his funeral and to have his remains sent to his family.
“John was only 29 years old and had just 30 days left until his release,” her fundraising message read.
“His sudden passing has left our family devastated.
“The cause of his death is under investigation.
“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.”
Unlocked: A Jail Experiment premiered on Netflix in April 2024.
The eight-part series followed Arkansas sheriff Eric Higgins as he tried to change the way inmates at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility were guarded in an effort to give them more autonomy and responsibility and foster a stronger sense of community.
The show focused on 46 prisoners, including McAllister, who agreed to participate in the docuseries.
McAllister was serving three years for 10 drug-related criminal offences, breaking and entering, property theft and gun possession.
Despite only being 29 at the time of his death, he already had a long criminal history.
On the show, he claimed to have been in prison 14 times since the age of 19 for different offences.
In one episode of the show, he admitted that his former criminal activities had given him a “adrenaline rush high” and that he had spent his life around other criminals.
McAllister was pronounced dead at 8.50am local time on June 2.
No foul play or suicide is suspected, according to authorities.