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OSP inmate may have been dead for days
In a bizarre twist, the News-Capital has learned that an inmate at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester may have been dead for at least two days before prison officials learned of his death.
Several investigations are under way at OSP in connection with the incident.
William Smith, 55, had been found dead in his cell on Monday, said OSP spokesman Terry Crenshaw. He said Tuesday that Smith had been in a cell on the prison’s E Unit and that the area was being treated as crime scene.
The News-Capital later contacted Crenshaw again and asked about information that Williams may have been dead for several days prior to Monday.
“Based on a preliminary investigation, it’s possible that the inmate had been deceased since late Friday evening.
“It appears strangulation may be the cause of death,” Crenshaw said.
Williams’ cellmate has been moved to the prison’s H Unit, according to Crenshaw.
Asked how an inmate could remain dead in his cell from Friday until Monday, Crenshaw said “That’s still uncertain.”
“That’s part of our ongoing investigation to find out why he wasn’t found deceased” earlier, Crenshaw said. Asked if Smith’s cellmate may have moved his body around in an effort to deceive correctional officers, Crenshaw said “He may have put him on his bunk. When we discovered the body, the inmate was on his bunk.”
Williams’ body was discovered during the 9 a.m. count on Monday, which is a “stand-up count,” Crenshaw said. Stand-up counts are normally held at 9 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., he said. How the death slipped by the other scheduled stand-up counts is being addressed, he said.
The Department of Corrections’ Internal Affairs officers are leading the investigation and the state Medical Examiners Office is also involved in the case, he said.
Asked if OSP is still working shorthanded, Crenshaw said “Staffing does not appear to be part of the issue.”
Asked again if OSP is short-handed, Crenshaw acknowledged that the facility sometimes is understaffed.
He said results of the investigation into Williams’ death will be turned over to the district attorney’s office.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.
