Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died in prison, and four men have now been arrested as part of a police investigation into his death. Watkins, 47, was found unresponsive in his cell at HMP Wakefield on October 11, where he had been serving a lengthy sentence for serious criminal offences.
Police confirmed that two inmates, aged 25 and 43, were first arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after the incident. They have since been charged and remanded in custody. Two further prisoners, aged 23 and 39, were later arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. All four remain in custody while the investigation continues. Detectives have described the inquiry as complex and ongoing, with further updates expected once forensic results and witness statements are reviewed.
Watkins had been serving a long-term sentence after being convicted in 2013 of multiple offences involving children. His case caused widespread public outrage and led to the immediate breakup of Lostprophets, the Welsh rock band he had fronted throughout the 2000s. Once considered a prominent figure in alternative music, his fall from grace was swift and total following the court proceedings that revealed the extent of his offending.
His death at HMP Wakefield, one of the country’s highest-security prisons, has raised renewed questions about safety behind bars and how authorities handle inmates considered at risk of attack. The facility, often referred to as “Monster Mansion” due to its population of dangerous offenders, has seen violent incidents in the past despite strict monitoring procedures.