GOULD, Ark. (KATV) — Two more Arkansas inmates have died at the Varner Unit, bringing the total this week to five.

Arkansas Department of Correction spokesperson James DePriest says Joe Harris, 55, and Donovan Cobbs, 26, were found dead Wednesday morning.

Harris was serving life for aggravated robbery out of Pulaski County and Cobbs was sentenced to 10-years for a Sebastian County robbery, according to DePriest.

Earlier this week, inmates Edward Morris, 34, Stephen Kantzer, 38, and Marlon Miles, 41, all died less than 24 hours apart. Kantzer died at the Varner Unit while Morris and Miles were in single-person cells in the prison’s supermax unit, DePriest said.

While authorities wait for the medical examiner's office to confirm causes of death for the inmates, DePriest tells Channel 7 it wouldn't be surprising if they were drug-related.

In 2017, there were 18 drug-related deaths and out of those 13 were due to K2 and one was due to a combination of K2 and another illicit drug. So far in 2018, there have been eight deaths, not including the five from this week, and six were due to K2.

Late on Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Asa Hutchinson released a statement to KATV:

I have received reports from Director Kelley and Colonel Bryant about the inmate deaths at the Varner Unit and am monitoring the investigation as new information becomes available. While the investigations are ongoing and the causes of death still under review, I have requested Director Kelley to study best practices from other states for preventing the use of K2 by inmates. In the meantime, State Police will continue to work with the Arkansas Department of Corrections to analyze the circumstances surrounding the deaths and to ensure the safety and security of all those in state custody.