Inmate Autopsy Indicates Death by Strangulation

The inmate, John L. Richards, had a projected release date of October 10th, 2012.

(SALEM) - The Oregon State Police and Marion County Homicide/Assault Response Team are investigating the death of an inmate at Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem on Wednesday evening, September 13th.

At approximately 8:10 PM, Oregon State Penitentiary staff discovered 63-year old inmate John L. Richards unconscious in his double cell in a general population housing unit.

Medical staff and paramedics attempted to revive Richards, but he was pronounced dead at approximately 8:40 PM.

Richards was serving a 100-month sentence for first degree sexual penetration from Lane County.

He was admitted to prison on July 20, 2004, transferred to the penitentiary on March 3, 2005, and had a projected release date of October 10th, 2012.

An autopsy was conducted this morning at the Oregon State Medical Examiner's office. State Medical Examiner Karin Gunson determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation by strangulation.

Further information regarding the investigation will be released by the Marion County District Attorney's Office as it becomes available.

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Albert Marnell July 9, 2008 9:22 pm (Pacific time)

Of all of the things I have written, I find it more than strange that this news article comes up and virtually nothing else. I must have commented on more than 400 Salem-News.com pieces and the dregs in terms of my self-expression shows up in such an unflattering way. I wonder if the government is not somehow behind the suppression and elimination of the many things that I have written.

Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 5:07 pm (Pacific time)

Dear Eqriddler, You and your firearms. You do not even know it is illegal to make veiled threats?

Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 5:03 pm (Pacific time)

I've been laughing at this for the last half hour. It is so stupid, I have to laugh.

Anonymous September 17, 2006 4:56 pm (Pacific time)

You guys, Hard Knocks University- get it?

yupwhateveryousaydude September 17, 2006 4:47 pm (Pacific time)

Hong Kong University? or HK the firearms? If it is the latter it doesn't impress me if that was your intent. I have plenty of my own. Not HK, but they get the job done. Plenty good enough for hunting humans if needed. Actually it was just to say I may not be the brightest bulb out there, but I'm no idiot. I certainly would never profess to being the smartest tool like Albert does time and again. No, im just another guy. But it is fun to banter with people who think they are. I'll leave it at that. Most importantly, it is so damn fun to stir up the pot and see what people are made of on these keyboard toughguy competitions. Bwahahaha!

Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 4:42 pm (Pacific time)

Dear Anonymous, Just kidding.

Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 4:38 pm (Pacific time)

Sorry Hong Kong University, no offense.

Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 4:36 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you Truthmeister. What is HK University.....House of Kooks? My Godbrother graduated Harvard with honors. Guess what? He stopped learning how to listen because he got societies stamp of approval and now he is actually stupid. Harvard ruined him.

alberthaveyouregisteredyet September 17, 2006 4:35 pm (Pacific time)

What a brilliant retort, just throw some of my dialogue back at me and call it good. Running out of steam? Getting lazy? You come off like a fighter for justice yet you flow undertones like Stalin. So are you going to be a part of the solution to this? I donate time and money for good causes like these but I am 99% sure you are just another dude sittin on his soapbox being an armchair envirnmentalist, and doing nothing but typing for what you speak believe. I love keyboard tough guys too. Anyway, I'm leaving out of the country on business now, and I must profess I am sick of looking at this guys face as well. You all have fun now.I guess you will get to "win" this one as I don't have anymore time to banter with you. Peace and chicken grease.

Anonymous September 17, 2006 4:30 pm (Pacific time)

I do like the "I don't brag but I've got 158 real world tested I.Q." part too, this one's not confused at all, oh no. I graduated from HK University, is that the same as a real world I.Q. score?

Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 4:25 pm (Pacific time)

I love you too. You sound like eqriddler. And you told me to calm down? You don't brag yet you gave your I.Q.? I am sticking up for true justice not rape. Susan Sarandon speaks very highly of you too. You have difficulty processing information. You have far more hubris than I. I never said I was the most insightful person in the world, just close to it. Now take your meds and leave some for me. Be a good boy.

The Truthmeister September 17, 2006 4:25 pm (Pacific time)

No, it means you have to write "I won't be lamby or get off track in class" 500 times on the chalkboard silly! You thought you were getting off light!

quityourwhining September 17, 2006 4:23 pm (Pacific time)

Lamby and off track? Huh, interesting. I'll have to remember that in my mental book of odd responses. Thanks teacher, do I have to write "I wont get off track in class, I will stay on task" a hundred times on the chalkboard?

quityourwhining September 17, 2006 4:09 pm (Pacific time)

Oh, and seriously, the way you stick up for this rapist... Why don't you do something and be a part of the solution about it then if you feel so passionately for his innocence. Go donate some time with the Innocence Project or similar agency. All this effort to defend a dead rapist. Goes to show what kind of person I'm dealing with. As for Susan Sarandon, I don't need other peple to tell me how to think and where to put my donations. Celebrity quoting and worship is yet another form of ignorance and generic conformity. That is for self appreciating pseudo-intellectuals like you Mr. Genius.

The Truthmeister September 17, 2006 4:06 pm (Pacific time)

Albert is not a sheep, that is lamby and off track, bah bah! Pay attention to his humanity, it is very, very real. He may always root for the underdog, but somebody has to!

You are both intelligent, that is why you are here instead of watching some lame TV show. You don't agree, but you both have something to say and you take the time to do it.

South Africa? Now where in the heck did that come from?

Rah, rah, sis boom bah!

quityourwhining September 17, 2006 4:02 pm (Pacific time)

Yeah, real smart you are, sure. Real full of hubris more correct. I have a 158 real world tested IQ but I don't brag. Until some self loving paranoia quack gets off telling me how to think, and that he is the smartest thing since a pizza wheel. I know how I think about 9/11, don't need your help thanks. Yet you let your ignorance fly by lumping again, someone in a "group" of people because of a statement. Albert, that shows not intelligence, but lack of it. Simplistic thinking just like most of the other sheep around you. You just think your different. But that's ok, you have to live with yourself. Keep telling yourself those things and you'll keep believing it. I'm off for a vacation in South Africa now, I'll tell your village hello when I get there. Their missing the King Idiot.

Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 10:52 am (Pacific time)

Dear quityourwhining, I wouldn't miss a dose of meds for the world, can I have some of yours? I am trying to make a few points. We agree to disagree. I don't care if he was accused of starting Vietnam. An accusation is the easiest thing to make. I could never find a jury of my peers. I am too smart and quite smug about it I must say. You like many people are on this children kick. Where is your anger about 9/11? "The Truth and Lies of 9/11." Do you have the transcripts of the trial or the people involved? Jail is not supposed to be a free for all. Tell me O.J. was not guilty? There is no real justice and until they get it right I believe people should have extra protection in jail. For every O.J. that gets off, an innocent person is framed. You sound like getalifesalem, I say get a new handle,..... 73's. Don't knock people with psychiatric difficulties, they usually are a hell of a lot smarter than you. As Susan Sarandon said, "Sometimes you have to have a breakdown to have a breakthrough." End of pissing match.

quityourwhining September 16, 2006 11:46 pm (Pacific time)

Albert, you need to take your missed dose of meds. Calm down. The guy was a convicted child rapist. I don't care about his feelers, and yes, in a court of law when you are convicted you are found GUILTY. Anything else is just semantics for the sake of trying to strong arm your point or opinion. I'm glad he's gone, good riddance. At least he cannot ruin someone else's life again. I'll save my sympathy for things that matter, like helping children and at-risk youth.

Albert Marnell September 16, 2006 6:37 pm (Pacific time)

Yes, I am aware of my spelling errors, I sometimes type in a rush and there is no word perfect in the comment area to flash a spelling error. Besides, I do not get paid for what I say. I really want to get people to think outside the box and yes sometimes my perceptions are wrong, but I have to say, Not Often.

Albert Marnell September 16, 2006 2:56 pm (Pacific time)

Dear Alice, I am glad that you know how evil and stupid the justice system is. As a matter of fact, having dealt with many civil matters in my life, I am amazed at how the courts do not function and how random and inaccurate decisions are. There are many people that will not shed a tear for a person that is in the living Hell. Some people have no feelings. I know that the Editor's have their hearts in the right place. I have to disagree that conviction means guilt. People in law enforcement know this very well. I have seen some of the most stupid and evil Keystone Cop routines in my life. Recently I saw a group of very young police officers near transportation system. They were just children to me. They lack life exerience and judgement. They also are a gang in and of themselves. What does a 21 year old really know about life....very little if anything. There are very few candles on this earth regardless of age. Like I always say go to www.badcopnews.com to see what our injustice system is all about. Do it right or do not do it at all. I will never call the police for anything. I would rather die. Because of what I know, I will not die in all probability.

The Editor September 16, 2006 12:28 pm (Pacific time)

I don't think it does anything to hurt the man's legacy. He was convicted and serving a sentence, that means he was guilty. We did not convict him, a court of law did. His picture was used to remind all of us that we are still talking about a human being. It is our intent to not let people die faceless and nameless. Thank you though Alice, for letting us know your thoughts. We do respect your opinion.

Alice September 16, 2006 12:23 pm (Pacific time)

I really feel that the man should have been able to rest in peace without smearing him anymore by putting his picture (HUGE!!!!) all over the news. He might have been guilty, but do we really know for sure?? Like Albert said, many have been falsely accused. I know some who have been and it is a living hell!!!

Albert Marnell September 15, 2006 4:46 pm (Pacific time)

Nice try. Too bad you do not know what in the hell you are talking about. Why don't you identify yourself? Is this eq? When you don't know who did it, you do not blame anyone moron! How dare you accuse a 4 year old of anything. You must be a real idiot.

getalifesalem September 15, 2006 3:55 pm (Pacific time)

who said anything about his guilt? who do you blame for it when you dont know who did it. maybe if youve been a victim of false accusations since you were 4, they were not all false

Albert Marnell September 14, 2006 10:38 pm (Pacific time)

Watch nothing happen to the murderer or the people who are supposed to look after the inmates. People in jail (a primative concept) are people not animals. Most of them need psychiatric help and some sort of dignified confinement. Alot of people in prison are framed. I have seen this over a lifetime. Doen't anyone remember the infinite stories of people in jail because they were patsys? I have been the victim of false accusations since I was 4 years old. I know what it feels like for people to be accused of things that they have not done. It is horrible. At this point in my life, people lay off otherwise they know they will lay down dead.

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Inmate Autopsy Indicates Death by Strangulation

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