WOODVILLE, Texas — An investigation is underway following the death of a Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate, and officials believe his cellmate is the killer.
It happened on January 6, 2023. Staff at the Gib Lewis Unit in Woodville saw Danny Luken injured in his cell at 2:41 a.m., according to a Texas Department of Criminal Justice release.
Luken's injuries suggested he had been physically assaulted.
Staff went into the cell, began trying to save Luken's life and called 911. An emergency crew responded and took Luken to Tyler County Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators believe Jason Mark Ryder, Luken's cellmate, killed him, according to the release.
Ryder is serving a 50-year sentence for injury to a child out of Brazoria County. While incarcerated, he received an additional 20 years for a murder charge out of Walker County.
At this time, it is unclear what extra sentencing or charges Ryder faces in connection with Luken's death.
Luken was serving a 45-year sentence for burglary of a habitat with intent to commit sexual assault and a 30-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault with a deadly weapon. Both sentences stem from charges out of Harris County.
While Luken was incarcerated, he got three additional sentences. He was sentenced to seven years for aggravated assault of a correctional officer, two years for prohibited substance in a correctional facility, and he was sentenced to life for aggravated assault of a correction officer.
The sentences Luken received while incarcerated stem from charges out of Walker County, Jefferson County, and Anderson County.
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From a Texas Department of Criminal Justice release:
On January 6, 2023 at 2:41 a.m., the staff at the Gib Lewis Unit in Woodville, Texas observed inmate Danny Luken (#427717) in his cell with injuries consistent with a physical assault. TDCJ staff entered the cell and began life-saving measures. 911 was contacted and inmate Luken was taken via EMS to Tyler County Hospital in Woodville where he was pronounced deceased at 3:43 a.m. Luken’s cellmate, inmate Jason Mark Ryder (#1100528), was identified as the assailant.
Inmate Luken was received at TDCJ on July 30, 1986 to serve a 45-year sentence for Burglary of a Habitat with intent to commit Sexual Assault (Harris County) and a 30-year sentence for Aggravated Sexual Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Harris County). While incarcerated he received three additional sentences: a 7-year sentence for Aggravated Assault of a Correctional Officer (Walker County), a 2-year sentence for Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility (Jefferson County) and a life sentence for Aggravated Assault of a Correctional Officer (Anderson County).
Inmate Ryder was received at TDCJ on June 3, 2002 to serve a 50-year sentence for Injury to a Child (Brazoria County). While incarcerated he received a 20-year sentence for Murder (Walker County).
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