Inmate’s death ruled homicide

HOLDENVILLE, Okla. (AP) – The state medical examiner’s office says the death of an inmate last month at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville was due to strangulation.

Office spokeswoman Amy Elliott says the Dec. 2 death of 28-year-old Eric Grimm has been ruled a homicide.

It’s the second strangulation at the private prison, following that of 22-year-old Tony Czernicki who was found strangled in his cell in October. Both inmates had cellmates.

Prison officials say they don’t believe the two deaths are related.

Hughes County District Attorney Chris Ross says he hasn’t received a final investigative report into Grimm’s death, but said criminal charges are expected to be filed against an inmate in the Oct. 26 killing of Czernicki.

The 1,600-bed private prison is operated by Tennessee-based Corrections Corporation of America.