Death of inmate at Lansing state prison believed to be a homicide; inmate was serving time for Douglas County crimes

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at a Kansas prison as an apparent homicide.

The Kansas Department of Corrections said in a news release that 56-year-old Fred Patterson III died Sunday at the Lansing Correctional Facility. He had been there since May after violating parole in a child sexual assault case.

He had two aggravated indecent liberties with a child convictions from Douglas County, one involving a child younger than 14 and another involving a child younger than 16.

The release said there would be an independent autopsy but provided no details about a cause of death or a suspect.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation.

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