Arkansas State Police Investigate Death Of Prisoner At East Arkansas Unit

By Sonny Albarado, Arkansas Advocate

December 9, 2022

Caleb Cogburn, 24, was found dead in his cell at the Varner Unit in Gould on Thursday, according to a press release from the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

The prisoner was pronounced dead at 6:40 a.m., according to the department. No other details about the circumstances of Cogburn’s death were released.

Caleb Cogburn

Arkansas State Police was notified and will conduct an investigation into the circumstances of Cogburn’s death. The Corrections Department will conduct an internal investigation as well.

Cogburn was serving a 40-year sentence for rape from Pope County. The Russellville resident was arrested in May 2021, accused of having sexual contact with a minor. He was scheduled for trial in April but entered a negotiated plea of guilty to a rape charge, according to court records. A separate sexual assault charge was dismissed.

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