Two South Dakota prison inmates charged with murder after guard killed during escape attempt

Two inmates at a South Dakota prison have been charged with murder after the death of a guard Tuesday morning.

The Associated Press reports that Rodney Berget and Eric Robert, both 48,  tried to escape the South Dakota Penitentiary in Sioux Falls shortly before 11 a.m., killing 63-year-old Ronald Johnson and assaulting another guard during the attempt.

Prison officials wouldn't release further details about Johnson's death and any other information about the escape attempt and attack. The other guard, whose name has not been released, suffered minor injuries.

Berget, who is currently serving life sentences for attempted murder and kidnapping charges, was convicted of escaping from the prison in 1984 and broke out of the same facility in 1987 with five other inmates by cutting through bars in an auto shop. He was caught less than two months later.

Robert is serving an 80-year-sentence for kidnapping.

If the inmates are convicted of murdering Johnson, they could face the death penalty.

Before Johnson's death, only two corrections officers had been killed by inmates in the 130-year-history of the prison.

-Chance Welch

Comments

[ACitizen]

The death penalty is the only thing that will stop these two animals from continuing their murderous path through life.

[resume mistakes]

officials wouldn't release further details about Johnson's death and any other information.