Death Investigation Underway at Oregon State Penitentiary

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

The Oregon State Penitentiary Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM ) - The Oregon State Police and Marion County District Attorneys Office are investigating the death of an inmate at Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem Wednesday night. Oregon Department of Corrections spokeswoman Perrin Damon says 63-year-old inmate John Richards, 63, was discovered by a correctional officer in his double cell in a general population housing unit. Richards was admitted to prison on July 20th, 2004, transferred to the penitentiary on March 3rd, 2005, and had a projected release date of October 10th, 2012. An autopsy will be performed to help determine the manner and cause of death Damon said. Investigators from the Marion County Sheriff's Office and Keizer Police Department are assisting in the investigation.