Man Who Pleaded Guilty To Manslaughter Dies In Sallisaw Jail

Associated Press

SALLISAW, Oklahoma -- Sequoyah County authorities say a Pocola man given a 60-year sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter and arson has died in the county jail at Sallisaw.

The Southwest Times Record at Fort Smith, Ark., reports that Sheriff Ron Lockhart said 36-year-old David Dewayne Collins collapsed in his cell about 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Lockhart said no foul play was suspected, and it appeared that Collins had a heart attack.

Collins was convicted in the Sept. 22 death of 20-year-old Shannon Southern. Her body was found by firefighters who fought a blaze at her Muldrow home, and an autopsy determined she had been shot.

Collins was originally charged with first-degree murder and arson, but agreed to plead guilty to arson and first-degree manslaughter.