Perrysburg Township murder suspect found dead in jail cell

6/3/2009

BOWLING GREEN A Perrysburg Township man charged with murdering his girlfriend was found dead in his jail cell Tuesday night.

According to the Wood County Sheriff s Office, Daniel E. Prater, 49, appeared to have died as a result of suicide by hanging. He was found in his cell about 11:35 p.m. during a routine security check at the jail, officials said.

Prater, of 25574 Broad St., was charged with murder and tampering with evidence stemming from the April 19 murder of Henrietta Foster, 57, at her home in the Perrysburg Heights neighborhood.

An autopsy showed Ms. Foster died from "asphyxia due to compression of the neck," according to Dr. Douglas W. Hess, Wood County coroner. She also suffered blunt-force trauma to her head, neck, and torso.