FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2005

INMATE DEATH AT RIVERBEND MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION DETERMINED TO BE A HOMICIDE

Nashville, Tenn. - Tennessee Department of Correction's Internal Affairs Division is investigating the murder of an inmate at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution last night.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. CDT, correctional officers found inmate Keith Latron Drinkard lying on the floor of the common work area in Unit 3 with multiple stab wounds in the upper body area.  Internal Affairs has identified two potential suspects in the murder and they are currently in segregation undergoing investigation.  A prison-made weapon has been recovered and is believed to be the murder weapon.

Drinkard is a 38-year-old black male, currently serving a maximum 55-year sentence for aggravated rape and aggravated robbery convictions out of Shelby County in 1993.

Riverbend's Unit 3 is a maximum-security level unit with 4 pods, 24 inmates in each pod with a total capacity of 96 inmates.

The unit remains on lockdown until the investigation is complete.

 
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