Police Investigate Death of Inmate At Oregon State Penitentiary

An inmate died unexpectedly Sunday morning in his housing unit at Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem.

Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(SALEM) - Officers at the Oregon State Penitentiary responded to a man-down call Sunday morning at about 10:55 AM in E-block, a general population housing unit accommodating 560 inmates.

Penitentiary security and medical staff responded as well as paramedics from the Salem Fire Department.

All were unable to resuscitate 39-year old Stephen Lee Dempsey.

Dempsey was admitted to prison in June 2006 from Multnomah County on 13 counts of second-degree robbery, three counts of first-degree burglary, and one count of second-degree kidnapping.

His projected release date was in June 2052.

The Oregon State Police are investigating. Next of kin have been notified.