British authorities have launched a murder investigation after Ian Watkins, the disgraced former frontman of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, was stabbed to death in prison. Watkins, 48, was serving a 29-year sentence for a string of horrific child sex offenses when he was fatally attacked with a knife at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire on Saturday.
Emergency responders were called to the prison in the morning, but Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene. West Yorkshire Police confirmed the arrest of two male inmates, aged 25 and 43, on suspicion of murder.
Watkins was convicted in 2013 after pleading guilty to 13 charges, including attempted rape of a baby, sexual abuse of a 1-year-old, encouraging a fan to abuse her child, and possession of child pornography. His crimes shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation, with the presiding judge at Cardiff Crown Court calling it one of the worst cases to ever come before the courts.
“This case breaks new ground,” Judge John Royce said at the time. He described Watkins as a manipulative predator who used his fame to commit unspeakable acts, driven by what the judge called an “insatiable lust.”
At the peak of his music career, Watkins led Lostprophets to commercial success, including a No. 1 UK album in 2006. The band quickly disbanded following his arrest, with its members expressing horror over Watkins’ crimes.
HMP Wakefield, where Watkins was housed, is a high-security prison known for holding some of the UK’s most dangerous offenders. The fatal stabbing has raised renewed concerns about violence within the prison system, especially against inmates convicted of crimes involving children.
