Cole County Sheriff’s Office investigating death at Jefferson City Correctional Center

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Cole County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death that occurred Friday at Jefferson City Correctional Center, a Department of Corrections spokesperson told ABC 17 News.

A release from the DOC states that Lewis Younce was pronounced dead at 8:55 p.m. Friday at Jefferson City Correctional Center. He was 49.

Younce was serving a 26-year sentence for Johnson County charges including first-degree domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree domestic assault and two counts of misdemeanor third-degree domestic assault, the release says. He was received by the DOC on April 9, 2024, according to the release.

DOC spokeswoman Karen Pojman said in an email that staff had secured the area and informed the sheriff’s office and departmental investigation team. Pojman wrote that the sheriff’s office is investigating.

ABC 17 News has reached out to the Cole County Sheriff’s Office.