McALESTER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma prison officials say a convicted killer has been found hanged in his cell at the state penitentiary in McAlester.

A prison spokeswoman told the McAlester News-Capital that 47-year-old Elvin Gerard was found hanging Tuesday afternoon in his single-person cell and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Spokeswoman Regina VanBlaricom says it appears Gerard hanged himself - but the body is being sent to the state medical examiner's officer to determine the cause of death.

Gerard was serving life in prison for a 1986 murder and kidnapping conviction. He had been in the prison since 1987.