Escaped anti-gay murderer found hanged in his cell after recapture
A murderer who absconded from an open prison has been found dead in his cell after being recaptured.
Lee Dewhurst, who was convicted of killing a gay man in 1992, was found hanged in his cell on Sunday 1st October. He was discovered by staff at Bristol Prison at 2pm, who tried to resuscitate him.
He was transferred to South Meads Hospital in Bristol, but despite attempts to save his life was pronounced dead at 3:11pm.
Mr Dewhurst, 25, had only been taken back into police custody last week, after absconding from Prescoed Open Prison in South Wales last July. He was recaptured in Jersey after a nationwide hunt was launched by the police and the media.
A prison service spokesperson confirmed the death of Mr Dewhust, adding: “The prisons and probation ombudsman will investigate the death as with all deaths in custody.”
Police had previously issued warnings to the gay community of Mr Dewhurst’s disappearance after a spate of robberies targeting gay men in the Yorkshire area. Dewhurst was also reported to have been seen at several Gay Pride events over the summer months, leading police to believe he was a specific danger to the gay community.
Police were intending to incarcerate Dewhurst in a more secure prison after his recapture.
