Death of inmate at Lee Correctional Institution confirmed as natural causes

Photo Courtesy: SCDC

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — According to the SC Department of Corrections, 40-year-old Leo Jermaine Cheeks was found unresponsive in his cell at Lee Correctional Institution on Friday night, May 9.

His death was investigated as suspicious by the SCDC Inspector General’s Office with assistance from the SC Law Enforcement Division Crime Scene Unit and the Lee County Coroner.

An autopsy found that Cheeks who was found unresponsive in his cell died from natural causes.

The department originally labeled his dead as suspicious but the autopsy showed no foul play.

Cheeks was previously charged with Burglary in the 2nd degree out of Greenville County.