Forsberg dies in prison

 TECUMSEH —  James Forsberg, 86, died just before 9:30 a.m. Dec. 24 at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.

His sentence started on Jan. 17, 1995 after being convicted of killing Ellen Gray of Coleridge.

He was sentenced 50 years to life in prison for second degree murder. 

Forsberg was convicted of intentionally running down Ellen Gray with his pickup truck Jan. 20, 1994, in downtown Coleridge.

The rural Coleridge farmer was no stranger to the Cedar County Courthouse.

He was accused of killing his daughter in 1987 and endured a three-month trial.  Eventually, the court acquitted him of all charges related to that incident.

While the cause of death has yet to be determined, Forsberg was being treated for a medical condition. As is the case whenever an inmate dies in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, a grand jury will conduct an investigation.