John Salvi, who was convicted of killing two abortion clinic receptionists in December 1994, was found dead in his maximum-security prison cell on November 29. Authorities believe he committed suicide. He was found with a plastic bag tied around his head.
Salvi was serving two life sentences without parole. At his trial, his court-appointed lawyer had argued that he was insane, but the court rejected this argument. Despite claims by women’s rights groups of a nationwide conspiracy to commit violence at abortion clinics, Salvi’s prosecutors said he acted alone and no accomplices were charged.