3 inmates die days apart in Northern New York prisons

New York State Police are investigating three separate homicides involving inmates at prisons in the North Country.Troopers were first called to Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone on April 6 after a prisoner was found dead in his cell under a sheet. Investigators learned that Michael Campbell, 51, died of asphyxia after he was strangled to death by his cellmate, Andrew Hernandez.The following day, police responded to Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg for a report of two inmates fighting in their dorm area.Troopers learned that the victim, Lawrence Brown, 34, was punched in the face and hit his head when he fell, causing significant brain bleeding. He later died on April 10.Charges are pending in that case, police said.Finally, troopers responded to a report of a possible homicide at Gouverneur Correctional Facility on April 10. Corrections officers told police that they were conducting rounds when they found Shaun Bennett, 45, unresponsive in his cell. He was declared dead at the scene, and police said he died from cardiorespiratory arrest after suffering a head injury during a fight with his cellmate, Savon O’Neal, 32.Charges are also pending in that case.

MALONE, N.Y. —

New York State Police are investigating three separate homicides involving inmates at prisons in the North Country.

Troopers were first called to Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone on April 6 after a prisoner was found dead in his cell under a sheet. Investigators learned that Michael Campbell, 51, died of asphyxia after he was strangled to death by his cellmate, Andrew Hernandez.

The following day, police responded to Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg for a report of two inmates fighting in their dorm area.

Troopers learned that the victim, Lawrence Brown, 34, was punched in the face and hit his head when he fell, causing significant brain bleeding. He later died on April 10.

Charges are pending in that case, police said.

Finally, troopers responded to a report of a possible homicide at Gouverneur Correctional Facility on April 10.

Corrections officers told police that they were conducting rounds when they found Shaun Bennett, 45, unresponsive in his cell. He was declared dead at the scene, and police said he died from cardiorespiratory arrest after suffering a head injury during a fight with his cellmate, Savon O’Neal, 32.

Charges are also pending in that case.