FBI Investigates Inmate Death at Mt. Sterling Prison

The Illinois Department of Corrections has confirmed that the FBI is investigating an incident several weeks ago in which an inmate was killed.

In a statement, IDOC spokeswoman Lindsey Hess says that the incident occurred on May 17 at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling. Hess says the inmate was airlifted to a regional hospital, placed in intensive care and later died. But she declined to provide any details about the incident, the inmate's name or when the inmate died.

The statement says that "several" staff members have been placed on administrative leave and that "any activity that compromises" the safety of both staff and offenders will not be tolerated.

The FBI has only said that the investigation is ongoing.