Death-row inmate dies in explosion

Press, 16 September 1982, Page 13

Death-row inmate dies in explosion

NZPA Columbia. South Carolina A 24-year-old death-row 1 inmate ' working on a homemade bomb in his cell was killed when the bomb exploded, said officials at the Central Correctional Institution. Colunbia. South Carolina.

Rudolph Tyner was apparently sitting bn the commode

in his cell working on the device when the device exploded yesterday,' said Mr Jim Anasti, the deputy Richland County Coroner. Part of a radio and wire were found on the floor of the ceil, he added. ■

The bomb'was being built from a cylindrical plastic container with a sulphur-like substance inside, a prison spokesman said. Inmates had made bombs in the past and used them in break-out attempts and to throw at guard towers, the spokesman said. The explosive substance in most of the cases had come from matches.

Officers, said that they had heard an explosion and found Tyner lying bn his bunk with deep wounds in his neck and left shoulder. His left hand was blown off, as was part ol his right hand, the officials said. ;

Tyner was convicted in August, 1978,. of the March 18. 1978, shotgun murders ol country store owner, Mr Bill Moon, and his wife, Mrs Myrtle Moon. The two were shot to death at their store in Horry County during a robbery. -