Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was found dead after being attacked in jail on Saturday, according to BBC. He was 48.
Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison at HMP Wakefield after he was convicted of multiple sexual assault and exploitation offenses, including heinous crimes against children, babies and animals.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed the 48-year-old singer’s death after being called to the prison on Saturday morning about an assaulted prisoner and finding Watkins. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
BBC reported that Watkins was attacked with a knife by another inmate. While the exact details and motives of the attack have yet to be revealed, a prison service spokesperson said that a police investigation is currently underway.
It was previously reported by Rolling Stone that the musician was attacked at the jail in August 2023 by three other prisoners. The incident left him with several neck injuries that required him to seek immediate medical attention.
According to Rolling Stone, Watkins was first arrested in September 2012 after police officers seized a large number of mobile phones and storage devices after conducting a drug search warrant at his home in Pontypridd, a town in Wales.
He was imprisoned in December 2013 after admitting to the attempted rape and sexual assault of a minor, along with a string of other child sex offenses.
A rock star in his 20s, Watkins founded the Welsh rock band Lostprophets in 2000. Their most popular hits include “Lost Train Home” and “Rooftops.”
