By Noah Feit
The State (Columbia, S.C.)
BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. — For the second time in less than a week, an inmate has been found dead at a South Carolina correctional institution.
Randall Dustin Simmons, 34, was found dead at Evans Correctional Institution Sunday, according to the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
The Marlboro County Coroner will determine Simmons’ cause of death, but SCDOC says “it is believed to be a suicide.”
On Jan. 2, Steven Roy Earley Jr., 43, was found dead in Tyger River Correctional Institution. The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office said Earley’s death appeared to be a hanging and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Simmons was serving time out of Greenville for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of meth, discharging a firearm in dwelling, grand larceny and financial transaction card fraud, according to multiple reports.
While incarcerated, Simmons was punished for possession/attempted possession of a cell phone, use/possession of drugs and possession of a weapon.
Simmons was scheduled to be released from prison in September of 2019, wpde.com reported.
This is the third inmate who has died in a South Carolina correctional institute in the past eight days. On Dec. 31, an inmate was killed during an altercation, and eight more were hospitalized, at the Turbeville Correctional Institution.
Allen Jerome Capers was killed by other inmates an S.C. Department of Corrections official said.
©2018 The State (Columbia, S.C.)