BELLEFONTE – State Correctional Institution at Benner Township Superintendent Robert Marsh reported that inmate Justin Stewart, 36, was found unresponsive in his cell at 12:42 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2021.
Prison staff immediately responded and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until relieved by ambulance personnel.
Stewart was transferred to Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Pa., where he was pronounced deceased at 1:55 a.m. The local coroner and Pennsylvania State Police were notified. The official cause of death will be determined by the Centre County Coroner’s Office.
Stewart was serving a 2-year, 9-month to 6-year, 6-month sentence for drugs out of Lycoming County. He had been at Benner Township since Aug. 6, 2020.
Facility staff has notified the inmate’s next-of-kin.