Inmate found dead in cell at prison in Columbia, SC officials say
An inmate was found dead in a cell at a prison in Columbia, the South Carolina Department of Corrections said.
Kaleb Swecker was identified as the prisoner who died in the cell at Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center, the Department of Corrections said on Twitter.
Suicide is suspected in the 21-year-old’s death, according to the tweet.
An autopsy will be scheduled and Swecker’s death is being investigated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Department of Corrections said.
Kirkland Reception and Evaluation, also called Kirkland Correctional Institution, is a male-only high-security prison, according to the Department of Corrections. It’s on Broad River Road and primarily houses “violent offenders with longer sentences, and inmates who exhibit behavioral problems,” the Department of Corrections said.
Swecker was locked up on a youthful offender sentence, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Chrysti Shain told The State.
In July 2017, he pleaded guilty to a third-degree assault and battery charge and public disorderly conduct, Horry County court records show.
After being incarcerated for close to a year, Swecker was released into intensive community supervision, prison records show.
Shain said Swecker committed a parole violation. He was sent back to Kirkland on Feb. 5, according to prison records.
He was serving an indeterminate sentence with no projected release date, prison records show.
About 8,000 inmates a year will go through the Reception and Evaluation process at Kirkland, according to the Department of Corrections.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy did we report on suicide?
Discussion of suicide can be difficult, especially for people who may already be thinking of harming themselves. As a general practice, The State does not report on suicides unless they involve prominent individuals or occur in public places. In the case of this story, we felt the incident warranted fact-based reporting accessible to members of our community.
The State generally does not identify individuals who die by suicide unless it is a public figure.
The State maintains rigorous standards when reporting on public health issues like suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255, or calling or texting 988, or texting HOME to 741741.
This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 10:57 AM.
