Correction: Condemned Killer-Dead In Cell story

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a story Aug. 5 about a death row inmate who apparently hanged himself, The Associated Press misstated how often correction officers check on inmates. The officers are required to check at least every 30 minutes, not every 20 minutes.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Autopsy: Condemned Ohio man apparently hanged self

Autopsy shows condemned Ohio killer likely died from hanging himself 3 days before execution

By JULIE CARR SMYTH and JOHN SEEWER

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A condemned inmate used an item he was permitted to have to apparently hang himself days before his execution — a rare, but not unprecedented, death row suicide.

Prison officials haven't said how Slagle, 44, hanged himself early Sunday morning. Prison spokeswoman JoEllen Smith would only say that Slagle used something he was allowed to have in his cell.

Slagle was scheduled to be executed Wednesday for fatally stabbing a neighbor in 1987 during a Cleveland burglary. His lawyers were working to halt the execution and still hoping for a new trial.

There were at least three other death row suicides nationwide this year despite intensive security over the condemned.

At the Chillicothe prison, two correction officers were staffed on death row during the overnight shift and they are required to check on the 140 inmates there at least every 30 minutes.

Under regular prison policy, Slagle was scheduled to be placed under pre-execution watch Sunday morning, which includes around the clock monitoring by a prison staff member.

This year, death row inmates have committed suicide in California, South Carolina and Arizona. Two died from hanging while another cut himself with a razor blade.

According to data released two weeks ago by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, three U.S. death row inmates committed suicide in 2011.

Studies have found that suicide is a leading cause of death in jails.

A study funded by the U.S. Justice Department that was released in 2010 said that jail suicides have dropped dramatically over the last 20 years, but the numbers are still well above the general population.

Slagle was sentenced for the stabbing of Mari Anne Pope, who was killed while two young children she was watching were in the house.