Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson, died in the Supermax federal prison where he was serving two life sentences for the murder of a federal judge, officials said today.

Harrelson, 69, was found unresponsive in his cell the morning of March 15 and apparently died of natural causes, said Felicia Ponce, a Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman in Washington.

Ponce did not know the cause of death. Fremont County Coroner Dorothy Twellman did not immediately return a call.

Harrelson was convicted of murder in the May 29, 1979, slaying of U.S. District Judge John Wood Jr. outside his San Antonio home. Prosecutors said a drug dealer hired Harrelson to kill Wood, who was nicknamed "Maximum John," because he did not want the judge to preside at his upcoming trial.

Harrelson denied the killing, saying he was in Dallas, 270 miles away, when Wood was killed.

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