Palmer inmate dies of natural causes

ANCHORAGE — A 56-year-old inmate has died of natural causes at an Anchorage hospital.

The Department of Corrections says in a release that David Karl Bach was pronounced dead Wednesday evening at St. Elias Hospital in Anchorage.

He suffered from a long-term illness, which wasn’t disclosed, and officials say the death was expected.

Bach has been serving time at the Palmer Correctional Facility since he was convicted on drug charges in 2012.

Bach is the fifth inmate to die while in custody this year. Alaska State Troopers and the State Medical Examiner’s Office review all prisoner deaths.

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