Autopsy: Inmate Was Killed By Guards

The April death of an inmate at the Fishkill Correctional Facility was quietly ruled a homicide by the medical examiner, even as the prison insisted that he had overdosed on synthetic pot. The autopsy report, obtained by The New York Times in light of abuse allegations by other inmates, shows that Samuel Harrell had cuts and bruises and died from cardiac arrhythmia “following physical altercation with corrections officers.” Other inmates say they were punished for speaking out about the abuse. Harrell, who suffered from bipolar disorder, reportedly behaved erratically the night he died and believed he was about to be released, despite having five more years to go on his sentence.