Lopez was found unresponsive in his cell Monday morning.

Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived but were unsuccessful. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, the death is under investigation by the agency and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Lopez was serving a 94-month sentence for convictions of voluntary manslaughter in Wyandotte County.