Morales was found unresponsive in his cell on July 1. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. 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 investigated by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Morales was serving a 276-month sentence (23 years) for one conviction of rape of a child under 14 years of age, and one conviction of breach of privacy in Finney County, Kansas.