An inmate found dead at the Marin County Jail last week was a Sausalito man charged with murdering his landlord with a crowbar, a sheriff’s spokesman said Monday.

Conrad Justin Smith, 52, apparently killed himself inside his locked cell, but the circumstances remain under investigation, said sheriff’s Lt. Doug Pittman.

The San Rafael Police Department and the Sonoma County coroner’s office are conducting an independent review of the death so the Marin County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, which runs the county jail, is not investigating itself.

Smith’s death was discovered at about 1 a.m. Friday during a routine check inside the jail. The sheriff’s department said he had “mortal wounds” but has not released a description of the injuries.

Pittman said the cause of death will not be released until toxicology tests are completed in about four to six weeks.

Smith was charged with murdering Sausalito resident David Morgan on Dec. 11 at the home they shared on Nevada Street. Morgan owned the home and Smith, a struggling carpenter, lived in the garage.

Police said Smith was on the brink of eviction and possible homelessness when he beat Morgan to death with an 18-inch crowbar. Smith was arrested at the home after a lengthy standoff with police.

After his arrest, Smith told police he “fought for his life” with Morgan and killed him in self-defense, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by Sausalito police.

Smith was being held without bail at the Marin County Jail. He was facing 26 years to life in prison under the murder charge.

A preliminary examination of the evidence had been set for May 4 before Judge Andrew Sweet in Marin Superior Court.

Morgan, 57, was the proprietor of Golden Gate Bike Shuttle, a transportation service for bicycle tourists in Marin and San Francisco. He also sold luxury cars, most recently for Cole European in Walnut Creek, and before then for the Ferrari and Maserati dealership in Mill Valley.