Houtzdale, PA – State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale Superintendent Barry Smith reports the death of inmate Joseph Skrtich on June 17, 2018.
Skrtich, age 50, was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 6:47 PM on June 17, 2018. Officers and medical staff immediately responded to the scene and began performing CPR. The inmate was taken to the prison’s medical department where CPR continued. An ambulance was requested and arrived at the facility. The inmate was pronounced dead at 7:28 PM by the Medic Command Physician at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
Pennsylvania’s State Police Barracks at Clearfield will conduct an investigation. The official cause of death will be determined by the Clearfield County Coroner’s Office.
Skrtich was serving 15 to 30 years for aggravated indecent assault of a child on a Centre County conviction, effective September 25, 2017. He had been at SCI Houtzdale since December 26, 2017.
Facility staff has notified the inmate’s next-of-kin.
MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Reifer, 814-378-1000
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