Michael Campbell
Michael Campbell, 51, died on April 6, 2026, at Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone, New York, where he was held by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. State police said his cellmate strangled him with a shoelace, and a forensic autopsy by Dr. Michael S. Sikirica found asphyxia due to ligature strangulation and ruled the death a homicide. The cellmate pleaded guilty to murder, and at the sentencing Campbell's mother, Joan Scotchmer, said, "All he wanted was to come home." The Free Lance News reported a confession account in which the cellmate described a makeshift garrote and said he moved the body, and that prison staff later found Campbell unresponsive; the state has not commented on that account. The state correction officers' union has called for an end to double bunking in state prisons.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. A cellmate strangled Michael Campbell with shoelaces, according to New York State Police and an autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael S. Sikirica that ruled the death a homicide from ligature strangulation.
Reported by: New York State Police (outside investigators); Dr. Michael S. Sikirica, forensic pathologist (medical examiner or coroner).
Sources (19)
- 2026 Incarcerated Deaths
- North Country inmate’s death under investigation
- Prison officials are investigating the death of an inmate at Upstate in Malone
- Investigation underway into inmate death at Upstate Correctional Facility
- Upstate inmate’s death under investigation - Press-Republican
- Police investigate inmate deaths at 3 North Country prisons in one week
- 3 inmates die following altercations in North Country prisons
- Police investigating 3 homicides at New York prisons
- State Police investigate 3 recent deaths at separate North Country prisons
- 3 homicide investigations underway at prisons one year after wildcat strikers called for safer working conditions
- New York State Police investigate three inmate deaths at NY prisons, two ruled homicides
- Riverview Correctional inmate's death ruled homicide, State Police say
- Inmate accused of strangling cellmate at Malone prison pleads guilty to murder
- New York inmate sentenced to life for killing cellmate
- Inmate who strangled cellmate sentenced to life in prison
- Correction officers union calls for end to double bunking after prison killing
- New York inmate receives life sentence for killing his cellmate
- CONVICTED KILLER KILLED TWICE MORE IN PRISON TO BE IN A CELL ALONE, HIS BONE-CHILLING CONFESSION REVEALS