Man who was 15 when he killed Arkansas police officer dies in prison

John Lohbauer, left, and the Texarkana police officer he fatally shot, Ed Worrell, are shown in these file photos from the Texarkana Gazette.
John Lohbauer, left, and the Texarkana police officer he fatally shot, Ed Worrell, are shown in these file photos from the Texarkana Gazette.

TEXARKANA — Authorities say an inmate who was serving a life sentence for killing a police officer in 1977 has died in prison.

The Arkansas Department of Correction says 57-year-old John Lohbauer died Saturday. Spokeswoman Janie Runkle tells the Texarkana Gazette that Lohbauer's death appears to be of natural causes but a medical examiner will make the final determination.

Lohbauer was 15 when he fatally shot Texarkana police officer Ed Worrell during a burglary. He received a life sentence plus 40 years.

Last year, the Arkansas Supreme Court said it wouldn't order a resentencing for Lohbauer, who'd argued that he was entitled to a new sentence under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred mandatory life sentences for juveniles. Arkansas justices noted that Lohbauer was eligible for parole after 25 years.

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