RALEIGH - An officer on routine rounds found Inmate Drew Planten unresponsive in his cell at Central Prison at 2 p.m. today, after an apparent suicide.

Planten was taken to the emergency room at Central Prison where medical staff tried to resuscitate him, but could not. He was pronounced dead at 2:37 p.m.

Planten arrived at Central Prison as on October 20 for pre-trial confinement, charged with the murder of Stephanie Bennett of Raleigh. During his first few days at the prison, he was uncooperative and would not talk to prison staff or follow directions. In recent months he had been responsive and cooperative and was housed in a regular housing assignment.

The State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into the incident. Planten's body will be take to the State Medical Examiner's office for autopsy.