A convicted murderer serving life without parole allegedly killed his wife during a conjugal visit at Mule Creek State Prison in California.
Authorities say David Brison, 58, who was convicted in 1993 for murdering four men, was allowed family visits despite his sentence.
His wife, Stephanie Dowels, 45, visited him for a scheduled conjugal visit over the weekend.
However, the visit took a tragic turn when Brison alerted prison guards that Stephanie had passed out.
Medical personnel were called, but Stephanie was pronounced dead at the scene. Initially, Brison claimed she collapsed suddenly, but an autopsy later revealed she had been murdered.
The coroner did not release the exact cause of death, but investigators are treating it as a homicide.
Prison officials have launched an internal review into how Brison was able to carry out the alleged crime despite the controlled environment.
Authorities are also examining whether any warning signs were overlooked before the visit.
Brison, who has been in prison for over three decades, now faces additional murder charges. Officials have not disclosed whether he has legal representation for the new case. Investigations remain ongoing.
By Nairobi