Four More Bell Countians Arrested for Engaging in Organized Crime at EKCC Prison

From WRIL The Big One -

On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Kentucky State Police Trooper Abner, with assistance from Bell County Sheriff's Department, apprehended three more people who have been a part of a drug operation at a prison.

Taken into custody were 46-year-old Arlena Wilder and 52-year-old Bobby Wilder Jr., family members of two others involved in the alleged drug ring. A third person was arrested early Friday morning April 17th, 47-year-old Julie Ealy of Middlesboro.

Late Friday night April 17th, a fourth person, 56-year-old Robert Underwood of Calvin, Ky. was apprehended.

As we previous reported, On Monday March 16, 2026, KSP and HIDTA Gateway Area Drug Task Force charged five people with promoting contraband - 1st degree; trafficking in controlled substance 1st and 2nd degree; and engaging in organized crime. This was after an investigation that began in September of 2025 when the prison contacted KSP about suspected drug trafficking, money laundering, promoting contraband and organized criminal activity.

It was determined that former correctional officers at EKCC, 32-year-old William Caudill and 34-year-old Dwayne Skaggs, distributed the illegal narcotics within the prison.

Additionally, two inmates - Shane Wilder serving a sentence out of Bell County and Challis Davis serving time out of Knox County - were also involved in distributing the drugs. The investigation further determined that 70-year-old Donnie Wilder of Calvin, Ky., mother of inmate Shane Wilder, assisted in facilitating the illegal operation.

William Caudill and Dwayne Skaggs were additionally charged with official misconduct and lodged in the Rowan County Jail as was Donnie Wilder who has since been released on house arrest.

Arlena and Bobby Wilder Jr. (family members of Shane and Donnie Wilder), along with Julie Ealy and Robert Underwood were all charged with promoting contraband - 1st degree; trafficking in controlled substance - 1st offense (greater than 2 grams Methamphetamine) and engaging in organized crime. Arlena, Julie, and Robert were additionally charged with trafficking in controlled substance - 1st offense (greater than or equal to 20 dosage units of drug unspecified - schedule 3). They were booked into the Bell County County Detention Center.