Retired elementary school teacher Dao Quang Thuc passed away December 10 while serving time at Prison Camp #6, his son recently confirmed with Radio Free Asia. He was 58.

Prison authorities in the north-central province of Nghe An claim Thuc suffered a stroke and died from a combination of brain hemorrhaging and bronchitis. Officials have denied the family’s request to return the body for burial and are currently holding it to perform an autopsy. Standard procedure dictates that Thuc will be buried at the prison cemetery, and the family will only be able to retrieve Thuc’s remains after three years.