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Inmate dead at Macon State Prison

His body was turned over to the county coroner and will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab to determine the official cause of death.

OGLETHORPE, Ga. — An inmate died in Macon State Prison on Sunday, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.

They identified the man as Shannon Pickett. 

His body was turned over to the county coroner and will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab to determine the official cause of death. 

They say Pickett was serving two years on a probation revocation stemming from a 2003 charge for Aggravated Child Molestation out of Floyd County. He had a maximum release date of June 2025.

This is not the only death in a Central Georgia prison in July.

27-year-old Zachary Olivar was found dead early in the morning at Johnson State Prison. His cause of death is undetermined at this time. 

There are no reports of a fight or signs of foul play, according to the Department of Corrections. Johnson County Deputy Coroner Nathan Stanley says prison staff were doing rounds when they found Olivar's body on the ground. 

Olivar was serving 20 years for aggravated assault on a peace officer out of Jones County with a maximum release date of January 2042.

Jarod Quayshawn Williams died at Macon State Prison while serving a 20-year prison sentence of voluntary manslaughter out of Dekalb County. He had at most four years left in his sentence since he had been in custody since 2008.

It is unclear what caused Williams's death based on the Department of Correction's statement.

42-year-old Torrey Forrester was also found dead in July at Washington State Prison. His cause of death is unknown. 

Forrester was serving three years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Catoosa County with a maximum release date of March 2025. 

All their bodies were taken to the GBI Crime Lab for determination of an official cause of death.

13WMAZ also reported four other inmate deaths in June. One at Smith State Prison, Dooly State Prison, Telfair State Prison and Central State Prison.

Pickett's death is being investigated by the GDC’s Office of Professional Standards, as standard procedure; therefore, additional details are not available, as the investigation is ongoing.

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