ATMORE, Ala. (AP) - A 74-year-old man sentenced to death on a capital murder charge has died in prison after serving nearly 17 years behind bars.
Brian Corbett of the Alabama Department of Corrections says Clarence Simmons was pronounced dead around 12:40 a.m. Monday.
Authorities say Simmons died of multiple chronic illnesses and an autopsy will be performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Corbett says Simmons was pronounced dead in the health care unit of the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.
Authorities say he stabbed a woman over 70 times and left her disemboweled body in a bathroom in 1996. The man was also suspected in additional slayings.
Simmons served 16 years, 11 months and 29 days on death row.
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1/7/2013 6:14:24 PM (GMT -6:00)
