TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Corrections is investigating whether illegal drugs played a role in four recent inmate deaths at three state correctional facilities.

Since Friday, April 26, two Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmates, one Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility inmate and one El Dorado Correctional Facility inmate have died. The cause of death in each case is pending autopsy results.

Ethen Thornton died Friday morning at an area hospital. He had been housed at Hutchinson Correctional Facility.

Jeremy Waller died Monday morning at Hutchinson Correctional Facility.

Quinn Martin died Friday afternoon at an area hospital. He had been housed at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.

Kendrick Gracey died Saturday night at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.

The deaths are currently under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.