Nicholas Skorka Obituary, Death: Second inmate found dead in South Dakota State Penitentiary cell

Nicholas Skorka Obituary, Death – The state of South Dakota is investigating yet another inmate death at the South Dakota State Penitentiary, as confirmed in a recent press release. The deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Nicholas Skorka, who died on Tuesday while in custody at the facility in Sioux Falls. His death brings the total number of fatalities within the Department of Corrections so far this year to ten.

The cause of Skorka’s death has not yet been disclosed. His body was discovered in his cell, and an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday to determine the cause. At this time, officials have not indicated whether Skorka’s death is related to drug use, but the case is now under review by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), a branch of the Attorney General’s Office. This makes Skorka the fourth inmate death this year to be subjected to DCI scrutiny.

Attorney General Marty Jackley stated in the release that the DCI will conduct a comprehensive investigation and that any further actions will depend on the findings. The growing number of deaths within the state prison system has raised serious concerns, particularly given that some of them have been linked to drug overdoses.

One such case is that of 20-year-old Anthony Richards, who died in February. His death certificate confirmed the cause as an overdose of a synthetic drug known as 5F-ADB, often referred to as K2. Additionally, two more inmates—39-year-old Jason Garreau and 24-year-old Joshua Arrow—died just days apart at the end of May. Garreau’s death was officially attributed to methamphetamine toxicity, while Arrow’s cause of death is still pending as his death certificate has not yet been finalized.

The Department of Corrections is already on high alert over the infiltration of illegal substances into its facilities. On May 29, department spokesperson Michael Winder announced the disruption of a drug smuggling operation within the prison system. Officials reportedly intercepted drug shipments that had been sent through inmate mail and attempted to be delivered during visits.

Despite the uncovering of this drug ring, no criminal charges have yet been filed in connection to either the drug smuggling or the recent inmate deaths. Tony Mangan, a spokesperson for Attorney General Jackley, told South Dakota Searchlight that the investigations are still ongoing and that prosecutors will consider criminal charges if the evidence supports them.

The string of deaths and increasing presence of contraband drugs in state prisons have sparked public concern and protest, as seen during a May 23 demonstration outside the South Dakota State Penitentiary. With multiple investigations underway and autopsy results pending, prison officials and state authorities are facing heightened pressure to improve oversight and prevent further fatalities.