A Mississippi man who once sparked a nationwide manhunt and later admitted to a string of violent crimes, including the murder of his girlfriend, has been found dead in prison.
Alex Deaton, 36, was discovered unresponsive on Saturday inside a cell at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. In 2018, Deaton received a life sentence for the 2017 killing of his girlfriend, Heather Robinson, who was found strangled in her apartment.
Related posts
After Robinson’s murder, Deaton stole her car and shot a jogger in Rankin County. He then traveled to Neshoba County, where authorities say he fatally shot 69-year-old Brenda Pinter inside a church.
Following the Mississippi incidents, Deaton reportedly carjacked a couple in New Mexico before showing up in Pratt, Kansas. There, he was convicted of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated robbery for shooting a convenience store clerk, resulting in a prison sentence of over 17 years.
Besides his life sentence, Deaton was also given 10 years for stealing the vehicle and 30 years for the drive-by shooting that injured the jogger.
An autopsy has been scheduled, according to Rankin County Coroner David Ruth.
