Kenneth Manzanares found dead in Alaska prison cell
Jul 17, 2021, 12:46 PM
FILE PHOTOS: Left, photo of Kristy Manzanares; Right, file photo of the Emerald Princess cruise ship docked in Juneau, Alaska. Credits: Manzanares family / AP Photo /Becky Bohrer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A Utah man, Kenneth Manzanares, imprisoned in Alaska for the beating death of his wife was found dead in his cell this week.
Kenneth Manzanares, 43, was found unresponsive in his cell around 7 a.m. on July 14, 2021. The Alaska Department of Corrections said that correctional officers and medical staff responded and began performing life saving measures until emergency responders arrived.
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He was pronounced dead at 7:42 that morning.
In a statement, the Alaska Department of Corrections said that no foul play was suspected and that the death was not related to COVID-19.
Manzanares was sentenced nearly one month ago to 30 years in prison for beating his wife, Kristy Manzanares to death in 2017. The two had been on an Alaska cruise at the time of the beating death.
He had been in the custody of the Alaska Department of Corrections since July 26, 2017.
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Court documents indicate that Manzanares killed his wife after she told him she wanted a divorce.
In a plea agreement, Manzanares agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder. He originally plead not guilty to first-degree murder. He was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison.
Kristy Manzanares was found dead on board the Emerald Princess cruise ship on July 26, 2017.
