Investigation underway after prisoner kills cellmate

(MCALESTER, Okla.) Oklahoma Department of Corrections officials have identified an inmate killed Friday night at Oklahoma State Penitentiary as Anthony Palma.

A correctional officer on a routine security check found Palma around 7:30 p.m. unresponsive inside his maximum-security cell he shared with another inmate. His cellmate is believed to be responsible for his death.

Medical staff could not revive Palma, and a doctor pronounced him dead at 8:55 p.m.

Palma was serving a life-without-parole sentence for first-degree murder out of Oklahoma County.

He had been in ODOC custody since December 2017.

The cellmate will be identified if charged with a crime. He is also serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.

ODOC’s Office of Fugitive Apprehension and Investigations is investigating the death. The Oklahoma Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy.