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Thursday, March 28, 2013

APPARENT INMATE HOMICIDE UNDER INVESTIGATION IN HAGERSTOWN

(HAGERSTOWN, MD) -- Maryland State Police homicide investigators are investigating the apparent murder of an inmate late last night at a state prison in Washington County.

The victim is not being identified at this time because despite efforts, his family has not yet been located and notified. He was a 22-year-old inmate at the Maryland Correctional Institution Hagerstown, or MCI-H. According to state prison officials, he had been incarcerated since 2011 and was serving a four-year sentence for first degree burglary.

The preliminary investigation by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit indicates that at about 10:30 p.m. yesterday, a correctional officer in a dormitory area of the prison was preparing to conduct an inmate count when he noticed the victim standing near a bunk bed with blood on him. The officer immediately summoned assistance from correctional officers and medical staff.

The victim collapsed and was provided immediate emergency care by officers and responding medical staff. The victim was bleeding from at least one wound on his upper body. He was taken to the prison dispensary where emergency personnel from the Boonsboro Ambulance and Rescue Services responded and transported him to the Meritus Medical Center.

The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after 11:30 p.m. yesterday. His body will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

Maryland State Police investigators from the Homicide Unit and Criminal Enforcement Division and Forensic Sciences Division crime scene technicians responded to the scene after being contacted by prison officials. They remain at the prison this morning processing the scene for evidence and interviewing inmates and correctional staff. They are being assisted by investigators for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Internal Investigations Unit.

Multiple inmates were in the dormitory area when the officer observed the injured inmate. All inmates have been removed from the area while the scene is processed.

The suspect or suspects responsible for this apparent crime have not been identified at this time. The investigation is continuing.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would be interesting to know how long it was between the officer noting the blood and the prisoner's arrival at thr E.R.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:28 According to the article the inmate was spotted by the guard at :10:30 P.M. and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 11:30 P.M, so I would guess it was about an hour.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes the mistakes we make come with a high price to pay...I do believe this qualifies for to high a price though...

Anonymous said...

What has the killer to lose, if he's long term/life? No death penalty - no prob.

Anonymous said...

And the answer to MD repealing the death penalty has shown itself. Good stuff.

Anonymous said...

Today is July 31, 2013 inmate Justin W. Mcginnis was found dead in his cell on July 25, 2013 at Hagerstown. The jail informed his family simply "another inmate screamed for help and the officers came to discover Justin dead in his cell." Ironically a letter was received from Justin the day after his death, in that letter Justin states he is in solitary and speaks of horrible conditions!
How is it that other inmates have access to an inmate in solitary - to alert for help, according to jail officials.....? Prayers and viewing are this evening, 5 days sense his death and NOT ONE NEWS ARTICAL about it... family is awaiting the medical examiners report. However RCI cover up is well under way. He would have come home in August

Anonymous said...

I know tbe prison is tryimg to covers there tracks they did not get him medical attention he was sick and tried to get help the co told him your high go lay down the warden lied to the family who locks somebody up in a cell with no fan when its a 100 degress the prison is crooked and needs to be exposed the cos treat the inmates terrible who do they think they are not getting Justin medical treatment that prison is responsable for the inmates someone needs to pay