Inmate dies after altercation at Johnson County jail

This story was written by Kendall Pierson and Jacqueline White. FRANKLIN, Ind. (WISH) — An inmate died Thursday evening after an altercation with a cellmate at the Johnson County jail, according to police. The incident occurred at approximately 12:37 p.m. Thursday, according to a press release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Police say the fight was between two inmates, 35-year-old Russell Blackwell of Greenwood, and 32-year-old Christian Howard of Indianapolis. Police say jail staff found Blackwell in his cell with “injuries consistent with battery” and was taken to Johnson Memorial Hospital, but was then transferred to IU Methodist Hospital by helicopter in Indianapolis due to Blackwell’s medical condition. IU Health Methodist Hospital notified the sheriff’s office at approximately 6:56 p.m. that Blackwell had died, according to the release. According to court documents, jail staff saw Blackwell on the ground being struck by Howard. Blackwell was found “bleeding heavily from the head, with blood covering his face and pants.” A review of footage shows Howard “striking Blackwell over 15 times with closed fists, as well as kicking and stomping Blackwell on the ground multiple times.” Court documents say that when Howard was questioned by JCSO investigators, he stated the attack was unprovoked by Blackwell but done due to Howard’s frustrations that Blackwell “squandered his opportunity for release (from the jail).” Howard further stated that Blackwell needed his “a** kicked.” and “while he did not intend to kill Blackwell, he would also accept the consequences of his actions.” An autopsy was performed on May 22 where the manner of death was determined to be from “blunt force trauma injuries throughout Blackwell’s body.” Following the autopsy, investigators submitted additional paperwork to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office requesting a charge of voluntary manslaughter. On Friday, Howard was charged with voluntary manslaughter or second degree murder. In the state of Indiana, that’s a penalty range of 10 to 30 years in prison, with an advisory sentence of 17.5 years.