Iowa officials await tests on body of dead inmate

Published On: Feb 15 2013 08:39:00 AM CST
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -

Iowa officials are awaiting toxicology test results that could help them determine what killed an inmate found unresponsive at the Fort Des Moines work release facility.

Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Fred Scaletta says 53-year-old Thomas McNerney was found unresponsive on Feb. 8 and pronounced dead later.

McNerney was serving a 28-year sentence that started November 2003. He was convicted of prohibited acts, possession of a controlled substance and assault on a peace officer.

Scaletta says McNerney was transferred to work release on Feb. 6.

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