Ryan Rayburn
Ryan Rayburn, 27, of Ashcamp, died at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in West Liberty on September 30, 2025. Correctional officers found him unresponsive in his cell, and he was pronounced dead at Morgan County ARH Hospital. Kentucky State Police said foul play was suspected, and a Morgan County grand jury later indicted another person held at the facility on a murder charge. Medical examiner records reported by LEX 18 say he was strangled in his cell, allegedly by a cellmate, and his death is being investigated as a homicide. His sister said the family had not heard from the prison since the day he died.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. Kentucky State Police say foul play was suspected, and a Morgan County grand jury indicted another inmate for murder in his death.
Reported by: Kentucky State Police (outside investigators); state medical examiner's office records, as reported by LEX 18 (medical examiner or coroner); Morgan County grand jury (court); LEX 18 (reporters).
News reports (10)
- Foul play suspected in death of inmate at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex
- Police suspect foul play after finding Louisville man dead in Kentucky prison cell
- KSP investigating inmate death at correctional facility
- Inmate found unresponsive in cell dies, foul play is suspected
- Inmate indicted for murder in September Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex death
- Foul play suspected again in second inmate death at EKCC
- State police investigate inmate death in eastern KY prison
- Inmate charged with murder after prison incident
- KY corrections chief hasn't visited prison with 4 inmate deaths in the past year, records reveal
- 'We are inmates, but we are human': Open records requests reveal misconduct reports against EKCC employees