McAlester Man Convicted In Grandson's Death Dies In Prison

A man who was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in connection to his grandson's death died in an Oklahoma correctional facility. Donald R. Luke died Thursday at the Joseph Harp Correctional Facility in Lexington.

Ryan Luke's mother, Wendy Luke, was convicted in his death as well. The 2-year-old boy was already in a full-body cast when he died from head injuries in 1995. 

Ryan's death led the Oklahoma legislature to overhaul the child welfare system, including required monitoring by the court after a child involved in an abuse or neglect case is returned to parental custody, increasing training for judges and and requiring DHS to conduct criminal history investigations of prospective foster family members.

At the time of his death, Donald Luke was serving time for soliciting a minor to participate in obscene/indecent pics and sexual battery, both after a felony conviction.