Two convicted murderers died in separate incidents at the Utah State Prison last week.
Billy Joe Wilson, 48, died Sept. 23 after a balloon of heroin burst in his stomach, Department of Corrections spokesman Jack Ford said. It appears Wilson tried to smuggle the heroin into the prison by swallowing the balloon, Ford said.
"He did check into the hospital," Ford said. "We didn't know what the problem was."
Wilson was taken to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Ford said. An autopsy later revealed the burst balloon of drugs in his stomach, Ford said.
Scott Reightley, 49, was found dead in his cell Friday morning, Ford said. Authorities are awaiting results of an autopsy to determine his cause of death. Investigators found no signs of trauma on Reightley's body and no suicide note, Ford said. Reightley's cellmate left for work about 7 a.m. When officers went to wake Reightley at approximately 8:45 a.m., the inmate's body was already cold, Ford said.
Wilson first came to prison in 1982. He was paroled in 1991 but returned in 1995 on a first-degree felony murder conviction, Ford said.
Reightley had been in prison since 1983 on a murder conviction, Ford said.