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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Associated Press has learned that authorities are calling the death of Menard Correctional Center inmate Tuesday night "suspicious."

It is the third such death of a Menard inmate in less than two months.

Randolph County Coroner Randy Dudenbostel (DOO'-dihn-bahs-sul) told The Associated Press that the 35-year-old man was declared dead in his cell in the prison's segregation unit at 10:36 p.m. Tuesday. The man had a cellmate even though he was in a segregated cell.

Neither Dudenbostel nor Department of Corrections spokeswoman Stacey Solano (soh-LAH'-noh) would identify the man. Dudenbostel says an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

Solano says the prison was locked down Wednesday during an investigation.

Tuesday's inmate death is the third suspicious death at Menard since Jan. 31

JENNINGS, Mo. (AP) — A 24-year-old jail inmate in the St. Louis County town of Jennings is dead after police say he hanged himself in his cell.

Charles Chatman Junior of Jennings was found about 8:30 a.m. Friday. He was being held in jail pending posting of bail on traffic warrants.

Authorities say video surveillance shows Chatman hanging himself at 7:42 a.m., not long after he was moved to a one-man cell in the Jennings Correctional Center because he was agitated.

Chatman allegedly hanged himself with a piece torn from a sheet.