BEAVER, W.Va. — An inmate at the Southern Regional Jail died Friday morning.
The state Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation said a 24-year-old man was found unresponsive in his cell.
“Staff performed life-saving procedures to attempt to revive him and the inmate was transferred to Beckley ARH Hospital. Unfortunately, the inmate was pronounced deceased at the hospital,” a statement forwarded to MetroNews from the Division of Corrections.
Neither the inmate’s name nor a possible cause of death have been released.
The DOC statement said the death is under investigation by the DOC and state police.
The Southern Regional Jail near Beckley has been the focus of criminal charges and civil lawsuits.
Five former correctional officials at the jail —Mark Holdren, 39; Cory Snyder, 29; Jonathan Walters, 35; Jacob Boothe, 25; and Ashley Toney, 23 now face a series of charges related to the February 28, 2022, death of 37-year-old inmate Quantez Burks. A sixth defendant, former correctional lieutenant Chad Lester, 33, is accused of covering up the use of unlawful force.
Meanwhile, the state settled a civil lawsuit for $4 million in early November in connection with conditions at the jail.
Four separate $1 million insurance policies will be divided up among 9,200 inmates.