Warren rapist found dead in state prison

Warren rapist found dead in state prison

COLUMBUS

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the death of James Blackburn, 31, formerly of Warren, as a possible suicide following his death Tuesday in the Lebanon Correctional Institution in Warren County, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Blackburn was serving a 21-year prison sentence that began in 2006 for raping a young boy in 2005. Blackburn was found in his cell at 2:09 a.m. and pronounced dead 20 minutes later.

Blackburn’s death would mark the eighth suicide in Ohio prisons this year.