Harrisburg, PA – State Correctional Institution at Chester Superintendent Kenneth Eason reports the death of an inmate.
While conducting rounds, corrections officers found inmate Joseph McParland, 78, unresponsive in his cell at 3:30 AM on September 22, 2021. Staff and medical personnel immediately responded to the scene. McParland was pronounced dead by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel.
In accordance with state policy, the Pennsylvania State Police was notified and an investigation was initiated by members of the Troop K, Media station. The official cause of death will be determined by the Delaware County Coroner's Office.
McParland was serving an eight-year to 20-year sentence from Philadelphia County for aggravated assault. He was committed to the Department of Corrections on October 13, 2015 and had been at SCI Chester since June 14, 2021.
The inmate's next of kin has been notified.
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