B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack

Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.

Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.

The 74-year-old was violently attacked by a fellow inmate in a Quebec prison on May 19. Pickton was rushed to hospital where he was put into a medically induced coma before succumbing to his injuries Friday.

"The inmate's next of kin have been notified," the Correctional Service of Canada said in a statement confirming the death. "We have also contacted registered victims, in accordance with their specified notification preferences."

Quebec provincial police say the assault occurred around 5:15 p.m. inside the Port-Cartier Institution and a 51-year-old suspect remained incarcerated following the attack.

"The major crimes investigation division is currently conducting an investigation to shed light on this event," police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu said in a statement last week.

The Correctional Service of Canada says staff at the maximum-security prison were not involved in the assault.

"The assailant has been identified and the appropriate actions have been taken," the agency said following the assault. "The safety and security of institutions is paramount and an investigation into what occurred is currently underway."