The State Medical Examiner has not yet determined the exact cause of Israel Keyes' death, and the Department of Corrections is conducting internal investigations to find out how he was able to kill himself while supervised.
Israel Keyes, who confessed to killing 18-year-old Samantha Koenig and a Vermont couple as well as at least five other people in Washington state and the East Coast, was found dead in his cell, covered by a blanket, at 5:47 a.m. on Dec. 2, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Official say that Keyes committed suicide by using a blade from a disposable shaving razor to cut his left wrist and strangled himself using bedding material in his cell. Whether one or both of these injuries was the primary cause of death has not been determined.
According to DOC, Keyes was in the segregation unit at the Anchorage Jail under special supervision. He was moved to that unit after he attempted to escape during a federal court appearance in May. During the time frame troopers believe Keyes killed himself, between 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 5:57 a.m. Sunday, DOC officials say Keyes was being checked on every 30 to 45 minutes. Now, an internal investigation is ongoing.
In addition to uncovering whether Keyes was being monitored during the night, DOC officials are attempting to answer how Keyes obtained a razor blade.
Officials say that inmates in segregation may use disposable shaving razors in the bathroom area, but must turn them in before returning to their cells. It is still unclear how Keyes managed to leave the bathroom area with the blade unnoticed, and further investigation has now begun.
The DOC says Keyes was not on suicide watch while in the segregation unit, so his jail cell was not monitered by a surveillance camera.
Contact Jessica Ridgway
