A 74 year old inmate at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution died Wednesday.
John Zalme started serving his sentence January 27, 1977. Zalme was serving a sentence of 130 to 229 years for charges out of Lancaster County that included first degree assault, using a knife to commit a felony, assault with the intent to inflict bodily injury and stabbing with the intent to kill, wound or maim. He was also given a one year sentence for third degree assault out of Johnson County, to be served concurrently.
The cause of death has yet to be determined. As is the case whenever an inmate dies in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, a grand jury will conduct an investigation.