RNC probing inmate's sudden death at Her Majesty's Penitentiary

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is investigating an inmate's sudden death at Her Majesty's Penitentiary on Saturday afternoon,the third inmate death in a Newfoundland and Labrador prison in three months.

The man was alone in his cell when he died, according to a release sent by theDepartmentofJustice and Public Safety.

The death comes after an independent investigation was launched in late May following the deathsof two women at the Clarenville Correctional Centre for Women this spring.

Samantha Piercey, 28, died at the facility on May 26 and Skye Martin, 27, died on April 21.

Friends and family of both women say questions remain about how and why they died.

• 'Mother on a mission' demands inquiry into daughter's death in jail
• Mother of dead inmate seeks answers as independent investigation launched
• 'She should not have been there': More questions raised about Skye Martin's death in Clarenville prison

Theinvestigation will also examine thedeath of a male inmate, Doug Neary, at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's lastAugust.

Marlene Jesso, a recently retired 34-year veteran of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary who once ran the combined forces special enforcement unit, is leading the investigation.

According to the Department of Justice and Public Safety, Saturday's inmate death willbe investigatedindependently once the RNCcompletesits review.

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