52°
Christopher Lee Kennedy, 42, of Wampam, Lawrence County, was found unresponsive in his cell at the State Correctional Institution– Rockview at Bellefonte, in Centre County Pennsylvania last Friday, according to a release by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
Prison staff immediately responded and provided life-saving measures until facility medical personnel arrived, according to the release.
When EMS arrived and advanced life support measures were continued as he was transferred to Mount Nittany Medical Center, where he died at 5:10 p.m., officials say.
Pennsylvania State Police were notified and conducted an investigation.
Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers ruled Kennedy's death a suicide by hanging, as reported by Ellwood City News and Fox News.
Kennedy was serving an 18- to 36-year sentence at SCI Rockview since Dec. 22, 2021, according to the official release.
He had been convicted of Felony 1 Conspiracy - Murder Of The Third Degree and Felony 1 Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse Person Less Than 16 Years Age, according to his most recent court docket.
He had been in a relationship with the girl since she was 13 years old, reports New Castle News.
When he found out that she was pregnant he "made the girl take various pills and black cohosh to try to abort the baby," the outlet reports.
The girl gave birth on Oct. 9, 2017, but was hospitalized for severe illness starting Oct. 23, according to the outlet.
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh notified Ellwood City police after the 16-year-old girl was placed on a ventilator on Nov. 13, reports Ellwood City Ledger citing court records.
Sometime shortly after his birth, Kennedy had strangled his newborn son and buried him in cement inside of a safe, reports Fox News.
The safe and the drugs Kennedy gave the girl were found in her bedroom closet, reports Ellwood City Ledger citing police.
Many of the original charges against Kennedy were dismissed as a result of the plea agreement, according to court records.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Dauphin and receive free news updates.
