William Scruggs
William Scruggs, 44, was one of four men found dead on the morning of April 7, 2017, in a housing unit at Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina. Warrants released by the State Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Corrections say he was lured into a cell and strangled by two fellow prisoners, who later confessed; the Richland County coroner said he was strangled while someone pressed on his chest. Denver Simmons told the Associated Press that he and Jacob Philip lured the men with an offer of cookies and used an extension cord. Families' federal lawsuits say prison officials failed to supervise the unit and left dangerous conditions in place, and the Department of Corrections has denied those allegations; another lawsuit links the killings to inadequate mental health care, and the state denies wrongdoing.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). Warrants and prosecutors say two fellow prisoners strangled him, and Denver Simmons told the AP that he and Jacob Philip lured him to a cell and killed him; the families' lawsuits say prison officials failed to supervise the unit and protect the men, and the Department of Corrections denies the allegations.
Reported by: South Carolina Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); State Law Enforcement Division (outside investigators); Richland County Coroner Gary Watts (medical examiner or coroner); Denver Simmons, per The Associated Press (witnesses); families' federal lawsuits (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Families of the four men killed at Kirkland Correctional Institution in April 2017 sued state prison officials, alleging they failed to supervise the housing unit, and the lawsuits remain pending while the Department of Corrections denies wrongdoing.
Sources (13)
- Four inmates found dead in Columbia prison
- Authorities: 4 inmates found dead at a South Carolina prison
- Coroner: 4 slain inmates were strangled within 30 minutes
- Officials releases warrants after two inmates admit killing four others at SC prison
- Inmate from Flintstone one of two charged with killing 4 in South Carolina prison
- Colleton County murderer Denver Simmons says he killed fellow inmates to get death penalty
- SC inmate dies; spokeswoman says death followed prison fight
- South Carolina prison failed to protect four inmates who were strangled to death, lawsuits charge
- A sampling of violence at South Carolina prisons
- Mental health issues tied to SCDC settlements after deaths - Index-Journal
- Prison officials knew a voice told inmate to kill. He was left alone anyways, suit says
- Two SC inmates sentenced to life in mass murders of four other inmates
- S.C. inmates in jail for murder plead guilty to killing 4 fellow prisoners