27-year-old inmate dies at Rockview state prison, Department of Corrections officials say
A Rockview state prison inmate died Sunday, the state Department of Corrections wrote in a statement.
Devontal Thomas, 27, arrived at the prison two days before his death. He was found unresponsive in his cell, the DOC wrote Thursday.
He also went by the name Tayvon Thomas, a DOC spokesperson confirmed Friday. He pleaded guilty to the 2019 killing of a 2-year-old girl in a botched-drug related shooting, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. He was sentenced to at least 55 years in prison.
Thomas died by suicide, Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers said Thursday. A state police at Rockview investigation is ongoing.
In its release, the DOC wrote that Thomas was serving a minimum sentence of one year, six months at Rockview for a robbery conviction in Montgomery County. A spokesperson said Friday that he would have started serving the sentence for the murder conviction after completing the first sentence.
Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
Center for Community Resources: 800-643-5432, or visit 2100 E. College Ave.
This story was originally published October 14, 2021 at 10:54 AM.