Robert Joseph Tunnell
Robert Joseph Tunnell, 21, was found dead in his cell at Jessup Correctional Institution in Maryland on June 27, 2012. Corrections officers found his body with what appeared to be a string or shoestring around his neck after his cellmate spoke to them during rounds. Maryland State Police called the death a homicide and said his cellmate allegedly killed him. Prosecutors say the cellmate beat and strangled him, and in July 2015 the cellmate pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The official cause of death was awaiting autopsy results from the state medical examiner in the first reports.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. Anne Arundel County prosecutors and police say his cellmate beat and strangled him, and the cellmate later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Reported by: Anne Arundel County prosecutors; Anne Arundel County police (the agency that held him); Maryland State Police (outside investigators).