Inmate found dead in penitentiary cell

An inmate serving a life sentence for murder was found dead Sunday in his cell Sunday, according to a news release Wednesday from the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Anthony Matthews, 44, was found by staff at the Varner Supermax Unit hanging in his single-man cell and was pronounced dead at 2:55 p.m., according to the release.

The Arkansas State Police was notified and is conducting an investigation into the death. The Department of Corrections will be conducting an internal investigation into the death.

Matthews was convicted of first-degree murder in 2003 in Jackson County.