March 30, 2003                                                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Prison Inmate Commits Suicide

(Pierre) - A South Dakota State Penitentiary inmate has died after committing suicide.

Robert L. Anderson, age 33, was found hanging in his cell at the Penitentiary just after 2:00 AM Sunday. Prison staff began CPR and Anderson was transported to a Sioux Falls hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Anderson was sentenced to death for first-degree murder and second-degree rape out of McCook County. He was also serving two life sentences for kidnapping and a 25-year sentence for 1^st degree murder.

The Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the death, as is the practice with any inmate death. An autopsy will be conducted.

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