Cody Vestal
Cody Vestal, 36, was held at Valdosta State Prison in Georgia when a mattress fire broke out in his cell in February 2016. He was taken to South Georgia Medical Center, where he died, and his cellmate, Richard Strickland, also died after the fire. Prison officials said the fire started in the cell, and the Georgia Department of Corrections said the incident remains under investigation. Lowndes County Deputy Coroner William Carter said the manner of death is pending autopsy results from a crime lab.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined. Prison officials said Vestal and his cellmate started a fire in their cell and died in the flames, and the cause remains under investigation pending autopsy results from a crime lab.
Reported by: Georgia Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Lowndes County Deputy Coroner William Carter (medical examiner or coroner).