George Vernal Rice, an inmate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, died today at the Wyoming State Penitentiary. He had suffered a long illness, according to a release from the Wyoming Department of Corrections.

Rice was serving two consecutive sentences for incest. One was for 24 to 60 months, the second for three to five years. He was sentenced on July 26, 2007 by Judge Scott W. Skavdahl in Natrona County. Rice was born on July 22, 1949 in Austin, Texas.

As per departmental policy an autopsy has been ordered.