A 19-year-old inmate was found dead inside York County Prison on April 14, and what started as another grim call from the Concord Road facility in Springettsbury Township quickly turned into a full-on homicide investigation. The county coroner later ruled the death a homicide after an autopsy pointed to blunt force trauma along with signs of strangulation. Detectives say they believe another inmate inflicted the injuries, though officials have not publicly identified a suspect.
State police open homicide probe
According to WGAL, Pennsylvania State Police said Troop J's York Criminal Investigation Unit was notified of the death on April 14 and launched a major-case investigation at the county jail. The agency has described the case as an “inmate-committed homicide” and said troopers are working with the York County District Attorney's Office as they collect and review evidence.
Autopsy and what detectives say
An autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma and strangulation, NBC10 Philadelphia reported. Detectives told the outlet they believe 19-year-old Jacob Brady was killed by another inmate, though investigators have not announced any arrests or charges tied to the killing.
Court records and background
Local court records and reporting identify the victim as Jacob Brady, 19, and show he had been booked into the jail on Sept. 30 after Penn Township police charged him in a probe of alleged sexual contact with a minor, according to the York Daily Record. The paper reported Brady faced multiple felony and misdemeanor counts and was being held on $40,000 bail. His family posted a funeral notice for April 24, and his death is the second inmate fatality at the facility this year after authorities said 34-year-old Adam Miller was found dead in his cell in January.
What comes next
State police said the Criminal Investigation Unit will keep working the case alongside prosecutors as they interview inmates and staff and process physical and forensic evidence, according to WGAL. Officials said additional information will be released when appropriate, and the York County District Attorney's Office will decide whether to file charges once investigators present their findings.
