Graterford Inmate Who Died Wednesday Had Vicious Past

GRATERFORD, PA -- An inmate at the State Correctional Institute at Graterford has died.

Micah Stewart, 30, was found unresponsive in his cell at about 3:27 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Facility staff attempted "life-saving measures," according to Superintendent Cynthia Link, but were unsuccessful. Stewart was pronounced dead at the infirmary.

The cause of his death is not known at this time.

Stewart was serving a life sentence for first degree murder of his girlfriend committed in Lancaster County, the state said.

Stewart bludgeoned Cortney Fry to death with a screwdriver in July 2004 just days after she had given birth to their daughter, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.

She was 19 when she died.

Her body was found burned in a Manor Township field, the DA said.

But Stewart's violent history doesn't end there. He was also serving a separate 30 to 60 year sentence for beating a cellmate at Lancaster County Prison with a mess tray, nearly killing him.

Stewart's lawyers alleged that when he killed Fry, he was high on crack cocaine and marijuana, and should not be convicted.

He had been incarcerated since his conviction in 2007, and had been at Graterford since 2011.

State police and Stewart's family have been notified of his death and will conduct an investigation into the death, Link said.

Images courtesy Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.