North Pole man found dead in Kenai cell

KENAI — A 45-year-old inmate was found dead in his cell at the Wildwood Correctional Facility in Kenai.

The Department of Corrections says in a release that Paul Heppner died Sunday. He was being held on assault and driving under the influence charges, and had been in jail since Oct. 23, 2014.

KTVA reported Heppner was found unresponsive in his cell and efforts to revive the North Pole man were not successful.

Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska State Medical Examiner’s office will review the death. The Department of Corrections says it will also conduct an internal review per policy, and the results are will not be made public.

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