Mikel Livingston, Ron Wilkins, Dartunorro Clark, Steven Porter, and Taya Flores

Convicted Purdue University murderer Cody Cousins killed yet again.

This time, he turned on himself.

The Indiana Department of Correction confirmed on Wednesday the death of the man who on Jan. 21 entered a Purdue University classroom and shot and stabbed fellow student Andrew Boldt.

Cousins, 24, committed suicide Tuesday night at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.

He was found unresponsive in his cell during a routine security check just before 9 p.m., authorities said. He had self-inflicted cuts to his neck and both arms. Prison staff attempted to revive Cousins, to no avail.

Cousins was declared dead about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday.

LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan said the injuries to Cousins' neck were what killed him.

"It appears he used a razor to self-inflict wounds to his neck and arms," said Doug Garrison, Indiana Department of Correction spokesman.

Inmates are allowed disposable plastic safety razors to shave, Garrison said.

Cousins had just begun serving a 65-year sentence for Boldt's murder. After being transferred from another state prison, he arrived on Oct. 23 at Indiana State Prison, where he was being housed in a unit for new arrivals.

Cousins was sentenced Sept. 19 in a hearing that captivated those in attendance. Various mental health professionals shared differing views on Cousins' mental state. One said Cousins suffered from schizophrenia leading up to and during the murder; another said he had bipolar disorder and did not show symptoms at the time of the killing.

When Cousins finally spoke — the first time the public heard his voice — people gathered in the packed courtroom were eager to hear his rationalization for what Dr. Elmo Griggs, who has conducted more than 10,000 autopsies, characterized as "the worst homicide I've ever seen."

In his statement, Cousins claimed he used his knowledge of mental health to fake a mental illness.

"I killed Andrew Boldt because I wanted to, and I do what I want," Cousins said.

Steven Berger, a Wabash Valley Alliance staff psychiatrist who evaluated Cousins and testified during the trial, said "there are two ways to make sense of any suicide."

Cousins either killed himself due to his mental illness or simply decided to kill himself without any psychological symptoms involved, Berger said.

Berger testified that Cousins suffered from a mental illness but that it didn't play a part in the murder. The same could have happened in the case of Cousins' decision to kill himself.

"If it was due to mental illness, a prison might beef up its approach to treating mental illness," Berger said. "If it's due to his decision, there isn't a lot the jail can do about it."

Garrison said Cousins had no problems or incidents during the time he was in prison. The death is under investigation by the prison's Internal Affairs Office and the LaPorte County Coroner's Office.

The Boldt family declined to comment on Cousins' death.

Cousins' attorney, Kirk Freeman, said he was notified Wednesday morning that Cousins had been found dead.

"My only comment would be that what I said at the sentencing hearing stands," Freeman said. "He is so sick he doesn't know how sick he is."

Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington also learned of the death Wednesday.

"It's an unusual twist to a tragic case," Harrington said.

Purdue professor David Meyer said he heard of Cousins' death but declined to comment. It was Meyer's classroom where Cousins killed Boldt.

Purdue spokeswoman Liz Evans said the university "respectfully declines to comment."