Inmate Hangs Himself After Receiving 25-Year Prison Sentence

SARASOTA, FLA — A 39-year-old inmate at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility hanged himself in his cell Wednesday shortly after being sentenced to 25 years in prison on 40 counts of child pornography, police said Thursday.

Kelbi Burson committed suicide by asphyxiation, an investigation by Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department officials indicated. Burson was arrested in 2018 on the 40 counts of possession of child pornography charges, six counts of use of computer to solicit a child to commit sex acts, three counts of transmission of harmful materials to a minor, two counts of transmission of lewd or lascivious exhibition to a child, and a single count of lewd or lascivious conduct, police said.

After being sentenced in court Wednesday, Burson was evaluated by medical personnel due the sentencing, police said, and was medically cleared to return to his cell. At 3 p.m, officials received a report of a possible suicide and responded to Burson’s cell where they discovered and the man and performed life-saving measures before Burson was pronounced dead at 3:24 p.m.

Detectives have not discovered any signs of foul play. The final cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office. The incident remains under investigation.