Two Arizona Prison Inmates Commit Suicide in One Weekend

The Arizona Department of Corrections media relations department has had a busy few days. Last week, there was an apparent shanking, which left one inmate dead. Within minutes of relaying that news to media outlets, prison officials were charged with explaining to the public how a different inmate escaped custody...

By James King

July 12, 2010

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The Arizona Department of Corrections media relations department has had a busy few days.

Last week, there was an apparent shanking, which left one inmate dead. Within minutes of relaying that news to media outlets, prison officials were charged with explaining to the public how a different inmate escaped custody by stealing a government vehicle.

Today's headache for the DOC: suicides -- plural.

Two Arizona prison inmates apparently endured enough time at the big house and killed themselves over the weekend.

The first: 29-year-old Robert Medina.

Medina was serving a 15-year sentence for kidnapping and armed robbery. He was found unresponsive in his cell at the Eyman state prison near Florence and unable to be revived by prison medical staff.

The second: 26-year-old Anthony Lester, serving a 12-year sentence for aggravated assault at a state prison in Tucson. He died late Sunday after he was taken to a hospital.

We contacted DOC spokesman Barrett Marson to get more details on the apparent suicides, but he didn't immediately get back to us.

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