A Rockford man bragged about killing his ex on Facebook and then died in prison. But how?

It's been almost two months since Rayshawn Smith died in an Illinois prison, and authorities still have not released a cause of death.

Smith was the Rockford man who killed his ex-girlfriend, Ashley Hardin, in July, and posted a video to Facebook saying he did it because Hardin was "dealing in deception."

Smith, 46, was sentenced to life in prison on Dec. 15, but he died on Christmas Day at the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill.

A Will County Coroner's Office official told the Register Star this week that the investigation into Smith's death is not yet complete. The coroner's office did not indicate when it would be ready to say how Smith died.

Evidence identified:Machete, blood and zip ties found in Rockford murder suspect's car, documents say

On Wednesday, Smith's mother, Anita Smith, of Rockford, said her mind is not on Rayshawn.

"I'm trying to write a victim impact statement," she said.

Anita Smith's other son, Jaz Conley Smith, also was murdered last summer.

A jury found Charles Beacham, 31, of Chicago, guilty of shooting Jaz Smith, 29, in the neck on June 2 at the Blackhawk Court housing development. Jaz Smith died a week later at a hospital in Wisconsin.

"I lost two sons and a daughter-in-law. It's too much," Anita Smith said. "I can't worry about Rayshawn and Ashley right now. I have to compartmentalize. I have get closure on Jaz."

'She was a nurturer':Rockford woman's death a shock to friends, neighbors

Ashley Hardin was a 38-year-old mother of three. Her body was found July 23 behind a business in the 5100 block of East Rockton Road in Roscoe. She was shot twice and badly beaten.

Smith, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, was sentenced to 60 years in prison, the maximum possible sentence for first-degree murder, and was additionally sentenced to natural life in prison for the firearm enhancement.

A sentencing date for Beacham has yet to be set.

Anita Smith plans to read her victim impact statement at the sentencing.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Cause of death of Rockford man who died in prison remains unknown