Maryland Prison Deaths Under Investigation as Fifth Homicide This Year Unfolds

Key facts

• Kelvin Hite, 27, found unresponsive in his cell at Roxbury Correctional Institution on Monday.
• Hite's death is the fifth suspected homicide in Maryland state prisons in 2025.
• Omar Valdez-Granados, 23, died at North Branch Correctional Institution on April 27.
• State police homicide unit investigated 13 inmate deaths in 2025.
• Seven inmate deaths occurred in a two-month span in December and January.
• Department vacancy rate fell from 17% in 2023 to 8.4% in 2025.
• Maryland's prison population was about 16,200 in 2023, up 3% annually since 2021.

Second Death in a Week Triggers Homicide Probe

Maryland State Police are investigating the death of Kelvin Hite, a 27-year-old inmate at Roxbury Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, as a homicide. Correctional officers found Hite unresponsive in his cell on Monday; emergency medical services pronounced him deceased at the scene. Police believe Hite’s cellmate was present at the time of death, though no suspect has been named. The death comes just one week after Omar Valdez-Granados, 23, was discovered unresponsive at North Branch Correctional Institution in Cumberland. Valdez-Granados was pronounced dead around 9 a.m. on April 27, and his cellmate is also believed to have been in the cell. Both cases remain active investigations, with autopsies pending at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Five Homicides in State Prisons This Year

Hite’s death marks the fifth suspected homicide in Maryland state prisons in 2025, according to data compiled by the Baltimore Sun. The state police homicide unit has investigated 13 inmate deaths in state prisons during the year. Additionally, the prison system experienced seven inmate deaths in a two-month span in December and January, raising alarms about safety within facilities. Nora Demleitner, a longtime criminal justice scholar and former president of St. John’s College, said the rise in deaths points to a need for more robust staffing and safety measures. “We really don’t have a good sense of what is being done and what has changed to improve security in prisons,” Demleitner said. “It is time for the head of corrections to come out and discuss both ongoing and pending changes.”

State Officials Cite Staffing Improvements

Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services spokesperson Yianni Varonis said vacancies have dropped from 17% in 2023 to about 8.4% in 2025, the lowest reported level in seven years. The department expanded its crisis de-escalation training program in March 2025 and provides counseling and rehabilitation services to inmates. “The health and safety of DPSCS staff and incarcerated individuals is paramount,” Varonis said. “Addressing violence within our facilities requires a careful and deliberate approach that focuses on assessment, prevention and more proactive measures.” Despite these efforts, Demleitner argued that violent crimes in prisons could be a symptom of an incarcerated population that is “too high for the facilities and staff available.” As of 2023, about 16,200 people were held in Maryland state prisons. The population peaked at 21,500 in 2012, declined steadily until 2021, and has since increased by at least 3% each year.

Investigations Ongoing, Autopsies Pending

The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is leading both investigations, with assistance from crime scene technicians and investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The Office of the Medical Examiner will conduct autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death for both Hite and Valdez-Granados. Once complete, findings will be turned over to the Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office for review and possible charges. No additional details have been released in either case. The state police have not identified the suspects, both described as cellmates of the deceased.

Calls for Transparency and Systemic Reform

Demleitner’s comments reflect broader concerns among criminal justice experts about data transparency and prison conditions. She noted that state officials need to release clearer data on staffing levels and the factors contributing to violent crime in prisons. The department’s assertion of improved staffing has not fully assuaged critics, who point to the recent spate of deaths as evidence of persistent problems. The two deaths in a week have intensified scrutiny of Maryland’s correctional system, which has seen a rise in homicides after years of declining violence. The state’s prison population growth, coupled with staffing challenges, creates a volatile environment, experts say.

What Comes Next for Maryland Prisons

The investigations into Hite and Valdez-Granados’ deaths are expected to continue for weeks, with autopsies likely to provide critical clues. The Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office will determine whether charges are filed against the cellmates. Meanwhile, lawmakers and advocacy groups may push for legislative hearings on prison safety and staffing. The department’s efforts to reduce vacancies and expand de-escalation training may be tested as the prison population continues to grow. The coming months will reveal whether these measures can stem the tide of violence that has claimed five lives this year.

The bottom line

• Two inmates died in Maryland prisons within a week, both ruled homicides, bringing the 2025 total to five.
• State police are investigating both deaths, with cellmates identified as suspects but not named.
• Autopsies will determine cause of death; findings may lead to charges in Allegany County.
• staffing vacancies dropped to 8.4% in 2025, the lowest in seven years.
• Experts call for greater transparency on prison staffing and violence prevention measures.
• Maryland's prison population has risen annually since 2021, now at about 16,200.