(KTTS News) — Two more inmates have died at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking.

The deaths happened on separate occasions.

Nine inmates have died at the prison in 2023, compared with 12 deaths in 2022.

Most of the deaths last year were drug related.

At 7:18 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, offender Benjamin Powell was pronounced dead.

Powell was a 33-year-old offender serving an 18-year sentence for two counts of driving while intoxicated resulting in serious injury and death from Lawrence County.

Powell was most recently received in the Missouri Department of Corrections on Sept. 18, 2020.

At 3:36 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, offender Chris Guest was pronounced dead.

Guest was a 43-year-old offender serving 30-year sentences for three counts of first-degree statutory rape from Cole County.

Guest was most recently received in the Missouri Department of Corrections on Jan. 2, 2004.

Autopsies will be conducted on both inmates to determine a cause of death.