MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating the death of a 30-year-old inmate at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Oak Park Heights Monday.
At around 4:50 p.m., the victim, Shane Lawrence Cooper, was found dead on the floor of his cell with a ligature around his neck. It was determined he died of homicide due to strangulation, according to the BCA.
Surveillance camera captured another inmate, identified as Benjamin Heath Beck, entering Cooper’s cell shortly before Cooper was found deceased. He is now the sole suspect in Cooper’s death, the BCA said.
The BCA is still investigating and when complete, will present its findings to the Washington County Attorney’s Office for review.
