Convicted sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson, commonly known as the 'Beast of Blenheim', has died in hospital.
The 74-year-old was most recently released from prison in August 2019 and had since been living on the grounds of Whanganui Prison.
Corrections operations director lower north region Coralea Easther says Wilson appeared to die of natural causes in Whanganui Hospital on Monday morning.
"Next of kin has been notified, and registered victims are being advised."
In March 1996, Wilson was sentenced to 21 years in prison. Among his charges were, rape, indecent assault, stupefying, wilful ill-treatment of a child, and bestiality.
He was released in August 2012 and the Parole Board imposed 17 strict conditions on him, including requiring him to live in a state house on Whanganui Prison grounds and to wear a GPS tracking device.
Wilson was later jailed again in 2018 for two years and four months' imprisonment for 11 historical sex charges, including rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, threatening to kill, and indecency with a girl under the age of 12.
He was released on parole in August 2019.
