SALEM, Ore. — Authorities say a convicted murderer was killed at the Oregon State Penitentiary.
The Department of Corrections said Joseph Akins, 45, was found in his cell Saturday morning. The Oregon State Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the matter in cooperation with local prosecutors.
Officials said Sunday that an autopsy determined that Akins died of inflicted trauma and that his death was ruled a homicide. The Department of Corrections said an inmate suspect has been identified and is being held in segregation as the investigation continues. Authorities declined to release the name of the suspect.
Akins was convicted on a murder count out of Multnomah County and entered Department of Corrections custody at the beginning of 2008. His earliest release date would have been in 2022.
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