The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) and S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are continuing their joint investigation into the death of 62-year-old inmate Ronald Franks at Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville, S.C. earlier this week.
A report on the incident from Dorchester County coroner Paul Brouthers is expected to be released soon, but we’ve been provided with updated information related to the assault that left Franks dead in his jail cell.
According to sources close to the prison, the assailant in the Franks’ case is an inmate named Anthony Mann.
Mann, 38, is serving a pair of life sentences for murder. He was recently transferred to Lieber – a level three (maximum security) prison – and had three attempted escapes on his record.
Take a look at his rap sheet ….
(Click to view)
(Via: SCDC)
Sources familiar with the situation tell us Mann was under the influence of drugs when he attacked Franks. We’re also told the incident took place in a cell located next to an unmanned guard station – which would underscore this news site’s ongoing reporting regarding staffing shortages at Palmetto State prisons.
At this point we’ve received conflicting accounts of what happened to Franks – who is also a convicted murderer – but we hope to have additional information when the the coroner’s report is released.
Developing …
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