Jason Kelly
Jason Kelly, 35, died on December 2, 2019, at SCI Mercer, a state prison in Mercer, Pennsylvania, where he was held in the custody of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. According to the superintendent and state police, he was found unconscious in his cell during a routine check and taken to Grove City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police say his cellmate strangled him with torn bed sheets, and the cellmate has been accused of the killing. Officials classify the death as a homicide, and the state police investigation is ongoing.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. State police and the Mercer County District Attorney say his cellmate strangled him with torn bed sheets, and the cellmate told police he believed Kelly was part of a prison gang and had threatened him.
Reported by: Pennsylvania State Police (outside investigators); Mercer County District Attorney; facility superintendent; Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (the agency that held him).