VALDOSTA — An inmate at Valdosta State Prison died Sunday, according to state prison officials.

At about 11:30 a.m., guards found Astair Holmes Jr. unresponsive in his cell, according to a statement from the Georgia Department of Corrections Wednesday. Medics were called and life-saving measures were performed; he was pronounced deceased by the prison doctor at about 12:10 p.m., the statement said.

The corrections department is conducting an investigation into the death. Suicide is suspected, according to the statement.

Holmes was convicted of robbery by force in Houston County, according to a corrections department spokesman. His maximum release date was 2025, the statement said.

There have been several inmate deaths at Valdosta State Prison in the last year:

• Inmate Simon Warren died April 14 after a suicide attempt, according to state prison officials.

• Kealy Williams, 37, died March 30 from injuries caused by a fight with another inmate, according to a corrections department statement.

• In August, Joshua Roman died of injuries sustained in a fight, according to the corrections department.

• In July, Herman Galeno, 31, was found unresponsive in his cell.

• In June 2018, David Cordova was found unresponsive in his cell.

• In April 2018, Joseph Pagen’s death following a fight was investigated as a homicide, the corrections department said.

• In March 2018, Benjamin Snyder died following an inmate fight; the corrections department investigated his death as a homicide.

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.