Anthony Richards
Anthony Richards, 20, died on February 6, 2025, at the South Dakota State Penitentiary's Jameson Annex, where he was held. State prosecutors and the Attorney General's office say he died of an overdose of K2, a synthetic drug, and that it was distributed inside the prison; two people have been indicted in connection with prison deaths that year. Richards' defense disputes the state's account, pointing out that the state has not measured how much of the drug was in his system and that some evidence, including video of visits, is no longer available. Prosecutors have apologized for failing to preserve some of the evidence, and his sister says the family is disappointed with how the case ended and blames the Department of Corrections for not protecting people in its care.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed). State prosecutors say Anthony Richards died of a K2 synthetic drug overdose, while his family's account says the Department of Corrections failed to protect people in its care and the defense contests the state's evidence, including lost visitation video.
Reported by: State of South Dakota prosecutors (Assistant Attorney General Ryan McFall) (the agency that held him); Attorney General Marty Jackley's office (the agency that held him); his sister; his defense.
News reports (5)
- Two people charged in inmate deaths
- 26 charged after May riot, overdose deaths at South Dakota state prison
- State apologizes, but can’t explain missing evidence in prison overdose case
- South Dakota Outpaces Neighbors In Fatal Prison Overdoses
- Inmate accused of providing drugs in prison overdose case unlikely to serve additional time