HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections reported two inmate deaths at separate state prisons this week and announced criminal charges against two Philadelphia residents accused of smuggling drug-saturated paper into multiple correctional institutions.
At the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, inmate Reginald Hale, 55, was found unresponsive in his cell Monday, February 16, according to Superintendent Lindsy Kendall.
Prison staff initiated life-saving measures until facility medical personnel and Lower Allen EMS arrived and continued advanced life support. Hale was pronounced dead at 12:36 p.m.
Hale had been serving a two- to five-year sentence for aggravated indecent assault without consent from Philadelphia County. He had been housed at SCI Camp Hill since January 12.
Pennsylvania State Police were notified and will investigate, in accordance with department policy. The official cause of death will be determined by the Cumberland County Coroner’s Office. Hale’s next of kin has been notified.
On Thursday, February 19, inmate Edward J. Bower Jr., 31, was found unresponsive in his cell at the State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale, according to Superintendent David Close.
Members of the unit team administered life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived. Bower was pronounced dead at 6:46 a.m.
Bower had been serving a seven- to 14-year sentence for arson endangering persons stemming from a Lycoming County conviction. He arrived at SCI Houtzdale on September 25, 2025.
Pennsylvania State Police were notified and will conduct an investigation. Bower’s next of kin has been notified.
Separately, the Department of Corrections filed criminal charges last week against Devin Walker, 34, and Dajah Schoolfield, 29, both of Philadelphia, alleging they used falsified legal credentials to introduce contraband into several state prisons through the legal mail system.
According to the department, the investigation began in May 2024 when security staff at SCI Smithfield in Huntingdon County intercepted legal mail sent to an inmate already suspected of drug smuggling.
The envelope displayed a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections-issued Attorney Control Number and time code and appeared to originate from Thompson Law Office, P.C., officials said.
Investigators determined the ACN had been fraudulently obtained. Authorities allege Schoolfield created a website purporting to represent an attorney in order to secure the credentials.
The department said seven parcels were sent under the fraudulent ACN to inmates at SCI Smithfield, SCI Coal Township, SCI Fayette, SCI Forest, SCI Dallas, SCI Huntingdon and SCI Mahanoy.
Six of the seven packages were seized, and testing revealed the enclosed paper had been saturated with synthetic cannabinoids, according to officials.
Walker and Schoolfield were charged in Magisterial District Court 20-3-02 with multiple offenses, including forgery, identity theft and contraband-related charges.
The developments highlight ongoing efforts by state corrections officials to address inmate safety and contraband smuggling within Pennsylvania’s prison system.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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