PRESS RELEASE —

Lake Charles, LA – At approximately 5:00 a.m. today, an ambulance was called to the Calcasieu Sheriff’s Prison after an inmate, Blake A. Russell, 32, was found hanging in a mop closet.  He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Russell had been incarcerated since July 2017 after being charged with the 2^nd degree murder in the 2009 murder of Sierra Bouzigard.

Cause of death is unknown at this time but foul play is not suspected.  The investigation is continuing.