A 21-year-old man who was sent to the Utah State Prison for a diagnostic evaluation died early Thursday in what corrections officials say was an apparent suicide by swallowing a whole egg in the prison's Olympus Facility.
William Mclatchy, who was supposed to spend 60 days in the prison's mental health facility following a felony drug conviction, had forced a hard-boiled egg into his throat and was found by an officer on the floor, not breathing, according to a news release from the Utah Department of Corrections.
Corrections spokesman Jack Ford said it appears Mclatchy had saved the egg from one of his meals.
Officers found Mclatchy about 7:30 p.m. and worked with prison nurses to clear Mclatchy's throat and restore consciousness.
Mclatchy was flown to University Hospital, where he died about 3 a.m. Thursday. Family members were with him, the release states.
Corrections officials are awaiting autopsy results from the Office of the Medical Examiner.