Inmate at El Dorado prison in Kansas suspected of killing cellmate Tuesday, officials say

A 34-year-old man is suspected of killing his cellmate at El Dorado Correctional Facility, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Brooks Robinson Vonthaer was found unresponsive in his cell by a corrections officer around 5 p.m. Tuesday after he “sustained multiple fatal injuries,” KBI spokesperson Natalie Turner said in a news release. He was pronounced dead by medical staff at 5:18 p.m.

“A 34-year-old male suspect was identified,” Turner said. “He is incarcerated at the facility and was Vonthaer’s cellmate.”

The KBI investigates suspicious deaths in Kansas prisons. KBI did not immediately respond with more details, including how the 40-year-old was killed, the name of the suspect or a reason for the killing.

The KBI said charges are pending through the Butler County Attorney’s Office.

Vonthaer was serving a 62-month sentence for aggravated assault, criminal trespass, theft and criminal damage for Shawnee County cases that happened in January and December 2020, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He also has two other convictions in the county on drug-related charges, records show.

EDCF is the state’s second-largest facility with a capacity of 1,900 male inmates, the KDOC said.