Ohio Highway Patrol has three, open homicide investigations at MANCI from 2023
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has three open homicide investigations at the Mansfield Correctional Institution. All are from 2023, according to Sgt. Ryan Purpura of the public affairs unit of the patrol.
Three inmate deaths in just over six months ― June 2, Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 ― at Mansfield Correctional Institution are being investigated as homicides.
Inmate Jamie Marcum of Greenfield died Dec. 8 at an undisclosed hospital outside Richland County; inmate Donald Craig III, 42, died Dec. 6 after an incident on Nov. 18; and inmate James Johnson, 51, of Columbus, was found dead in his prison cell June 2, Pupura said.
Johnson's death was caused by "blunt force injuries of the head," according to Dr. Mary Goolsby, forensic pathologist and deputy coroner at the Montgomery County Medical Examiner's Office, who performed the autopsy.
MANCI inmate Marcum was set to be released Jan. 5
Sgt. Ryan Purpura with Public Affairs Unit, Ohio Highway Patrol, Thursday emailed a heavily redact incident summary regrading Marcum's death to the News Journal, which made a public records request in early December.
According to the incident summary, on Nov. 30 at about 12:30 p.m. "Trooper Nelson" was informed by MANCI, 1150 N. Main St., Mansfield, internal investigator Mark Decker that there had been an assault in housing unit 2D involving two inmates, whose name were redacted from the summary. One was taken to a hospital with "serious injuries" and died Dec. 8.
ODRC says inmate homicides appear to be unrelated altercations
JoEllen Smith, ODRC spokeswoman, said in response to News Journal's question about staffing of corrections officers that, "All required posts are filled at Mansfield and every other prison across the state each day."
When asked about the more violent inmates, she said: "As you can see from page 21 of our annual report, Ohio’s prison population is made up of more people with more violent crimes, as less violent people continue to be appropriately diverted to local community sanctions and programs."
In response to the question "how does an inmate get murdered at MANCI," Smith replied: "While Mansfield Correctional Institution houses higher security individuals, these specific incidents appear to be unrelated altercations that occurred inside of cells and did not involve weapons."
When asked about monitoring cameras, Smith said there are no cameras inside of the cells because of privacy issues and the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (there are toilets inside the cells).
"In a prison environment, we try to reduce violence by properly classifying individuals to the appropriate security level, proactively identifying potential issues, and intervening before they turn into violence," Smith said. "When they do, we treat these incidents seriously, and they are investigated by both the prison and the Ohio State Highway Patrol."
MANCI inmates who died by homicide in 2023:
David J. Robinson, warden’s administrative assistant at Mansfield Correctional Institution, on Dec. 11 confirmed the death of Marcum, 44, inmate No. A815481, "is being investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol at the present time."
Purpura Thursday said no charges have been filed as the Marcum case remains under investigation.
As previously reported by The Highland County Press, editor Rory Ryan shared with the News Journal that Marcum was indicted on a fourth-degree felony charge. The indictment alleged Marcum “did knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm” to a Greenfield police officer.
Marcum sentenced to 14 months in an Ohio prison in May 2023.According to a bill of particulars, Greenfield police responded to an altercation at a business and arrested Marcum, who was allegedly “cussing and screaming, “resistant and combative with officers.”Marcum was transported to the Adena Greenfield Medical Center,where he allegedly “made numerous threats” to the victim. When the police officer attempted to handcuff Marcum, Marcum “became combative” and hit the police officer “in the throat with a open-hand strike,” the Highland newspaper reported.Marcum pleaded guilty March 9, according to court records. At a sentencing hearing in April, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss imposed a 14-month prison term. Marcum had 152 days of jail time credit. Marcum was slated to be released from Mansfield C.I. on Jan. 5, The Highland County Press reported.
James Johnson's death
Earlier, the News Journal reported a Mansfield Correctional Institution inmate who was found dead in his cell June 2 "appeared to have been assaulted, with blood coming from his head, (blood) that was on the mattress and a swollen face," according to incident reports from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
Johnson had been incarcerated in the Ohio prison system since Oct. 2, 2020, according to the ODRC website.
Johnson had been serving time for aggravated burglary, a felony of the first degree; felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and weapons under disability related to a crime committed in Franklin County, according to ODRC. The website lists Johnson's status as "RELEASED - death."
Donald Craig III's death
No incident report was immediately available.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Inmate James Johnson, 51, of Columbus, found dead in MANCI cell June 2
