Maryland Inmate Sentenced to Life for Cellmate's Death
Somerset County, MD - A Maryland inmate will now spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found him guilty of murdering his cellmate. Tyjuan Chapple was convicted of First Degree Murder and other related charges following a two-day jury trial on March 31, 2026.
After a pre-sentence investigation, Chapple was sentenced on June 18, 2026 to life in prison. The life sentence will be served in addition to the time he was already serving in the Maryland Division of Corrections.
The case began on March 29, 2025, when Maryland State Police and Division of Corrections investigators responded to a reported homicide at the Eastern Correctional Institute.
Officers discovered that Chapple and the victim, Shane Lanham, Jr., shared a cell together.
When officers arrived at the cell, they removed Chapple and noticed his shoes and legs were covered in blood. Lanham was found lying on the floor, unresponsive and covered in blood, with multiple injuries to his face. He died on the way to the hospital.
An autopsy revealed the extent of Lanham's injuries. Every facial bone on the right side of his face was broken, and he also had fractures on the left side of his face.
He had additional injuries to his body and neck, and his cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.
According to court testimony, almost every officer and staff member at ECI who took the stand said this was the most horrific incident they had witnessed while working there. The case was prosecuted by Somerset County State's Attorney Wess Garner.
Garner commended the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Intelligence and Investigative Division for their work on the case.
He specifically recognized Cpl. Daniel Townsend and D. Sgt. David Marquette for their investigation and assistance in securing the conviction.
This case highlights the ongoing safety challenges within Maryland's correctional facilities. It also shows the dedication of the investigators and prosecutors working to hold offenders accountable, even when crimes happen behind prison walls.
