United States v. Bell

Facts

Defendant and his cellmate Mr. Dixon were inmates at a penitentiary in Indiana. One night the defendant left his cell wearing a white t-shirt and khakis and was holding something in his right hand that was hidden from camera. He opened the door to Mr. Pendleton’s cell with his left hand, keeping his right hand hidden. He closed the door behind himself, and Mr. Dixon emerged and sat on a chair outside of the cell that the defendant had just entered. Just over a minute later the defendant exited the cell shirtless, carrying his white t-shirt in his right hand, covering what appeared to be a long slender object. Mr. Dixon followed the defendant into their cell. 25 seconds later the two left their cell and walked towards a trashcan, put the shirt and object in the trash can, and then entered another cell. The defendant then went to the showers.

Mr. Pendleton was struggling to get up off the floor as the two passed his cell to get to the trash can. He was able to hit a panic button, but by the time he got help it was too late as he was stabbed in his left carotid artery. Mr. Pendleton passed away and his cause of death was from a stab wound to his neck. The defendant was charged withfirst degree murderfor Mr. Pendleton’s death.