Death row offender dies at Polunsky Unit

A 71-year-old death row inmate was found unresponsive in his cell at the Polunsky Unit, and later pronounced deceased after life-saving measures failed, officials say.

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 71-year-old Raymond Martinez was found unresponsive in his cell at 11 a.m. on Wednesday during a routine security check. Officers began life-saving measures, but Martinez was pronounced deceased at the infirmary, officials say. The preliminary cause of death is natural causes.

 Martinez had been on death row since July 18, 1984, for a capital murder conviction.