BEATRICE – A 36-year-old inmate of the Tecumseh State Prison was pronounced dead at Johnson County Hospital, Friday afternoon.

State corrections officials say Ryan Lykens had been found unresponsive in his cell, and was taken to the hospital, where he died at around 1:15 p.m.

The cause of death has not been determined and a grand jury investigation will be conducted, required by state law. 

Lykens began serving a sentence, August 6th, of 2012.   He had been sentenced to seven years and eight months, to twenty years on charges from Dodge and Red Willow Counties. 

The convictions included possession of a deadly weapon, terroristic threats, domestic assault and escape.