SLED investigating death of SC inmate

An inmate was found dead at the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville Tuesday morning.

Lee County Coroner Larry Logan said 27-year-old Victor Rogers was found dead in his cell and an autopsy has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Newberry County.

Stephanie Givens, a South Carolina Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said an investigation regarding how Rogers’ died is currently underway, but could not release any more information at this time.

According to SCDOC’s records, Rogers has been incarcerated since February 2013.

Thom Berry, a State Law Enforcement Division spokesman, said a regional agent as well as a crime scene unit were sent to the institution at SCDOC’s request. Berry said that the crime scene unit has since left the institution and the investigation is ongoing.

On Feb. 26, Lee County was the scene of a riot in which two correctional officers were stabbed by inmates while five others were also attacked. The attack occurred after a correctional officer was trying to search an inmate.

The seven officers were treated and released from a local hospital, while two inmates also injured during the disturbance were treated by prison medical staff.

berry said SLED was also called in to investigate the disturbance, which is still ongoing as well.

This story was originally published March 17, 2015 at 9:37 AM with the headline "SLED investigating death of SC inmate."