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SCI-Greene inmate found dead in cell

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SCI-Greene prison in Franklin Township

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SCI-Greene prison

WAYNESBURG – An inmate serving a life sentence for first-degree murder at SCI-Greene died after he apparently hanged himself in his cell.

Shawn Johnson, 35, was found hanging in his cell in the prison’s restrictive housing unit about 7:15 a.m. Monday by prison employees serving morning meals, said Tracy Shawley, the SCI-Greene public information officer.

Medical personnel were called, but Johnson was already dead when he was found, Greene County Coroner Greg Rohanna said. An autopsy was conducted Monday, Rohanna said, although its results were not immediately available.

State police are investigating the death and do not suspect foul play is involved.

“We believe it was a suicide,” state police Trooper William Brown said.

Police are waiting for the autopsy results to confirm that belief, “but everything points to suicide,” Brown said.

Johnson was the only inmate in the cell, Brown said. He apparently hanged himself used a piece of a sheet, he said.

According to online court records, Johnson of Woodlyn, was convicted by a Delaware County Court jury of first-degree murder in October 2007 and sentenced to life without parole.

Johnson was convicted of killing Thomas Lennox on Feb. 24, 2007. Johnson had worked for Lennox, the owner of VIP Detailing in Norwood. According to court documents, Johnson struck Lennox several times in the back of the head with a blunt object and then stole his money and his car.

Johnson was committed to the state prison system in June 2008 and had been at SCI-Greene since June 4. He was being held in the restrictive housing unit for “programming,” Shawley said, declining to be more specific. The unit is normally houses inmates who are considered a security threat, she said.

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