Inmate Found Dead in Cell at North Branch Correctional Institution; Homicide Unit Investigating
State of MD - A 23-year-old inmate at a Western Maryland prison was found dead in his cell, and investigators are now working to determine what happened.
Maryland State Police have identified the deceased as Omar Valdez-Grandos, an inmate serving time at the North Branch Correctional Institution (NBCI) in Allegany County.
Valdez-Grandos was found on the floor of his cell and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. His body has since been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.
According to investigators, a cellmate was present in the cell at the time of his death.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was brought in yesterday morning at 9:00 a.m. after being contacted by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Internal Investigative Unit, also known as the DPSCS IIU. The two agencies are now working the case together, along with State Police crime scene technicians.
The involvement of the Homicide Unit signals that authorities are treating this death seriously and are not ruling anything out at this stage of the investigation.
Once the investigation is complete, the case will be handed over to the Office of the State's Attorney in Allegany County. Prosecutors will then review the findings to determine whether criminal charges will be filed.
No charges have been announced at this time, and the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The North Branch Correctional Institution is a maximum-security facility located in Cumberland, Maryland. It houses some of the state's most serious offenders and is operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
Inmate deaths at state correctional facilities are required to be investigated, particularly when the circumstances are unclear or when another person may have been involved. The presence of a cellmate in this case has drawn the attention of investigators as they work to piece together what took place.
Eastern Shore Undercover will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available. If charges are filed or the medical examiner releases findings, we will provide an update to our community.
