Pendleton Correctional on lockdown after fatal attack

By Abbey Doyle

An inmate at the Pendleton Correctional
Facility died at Saint John’s Medical
Center Saturday morning after he was
attacked and stabbed by two other
inmates, facility Superintendent Keith
Butts said.
Daniel D. Dewitt, 35, of Columbus, was
attacked around 6:30 a.m. Saturday while
the inmates housed in the facility’s “H Cell
House” were being released for gym
recreation, according to a press release
from the facility.
After the early morning attack, Dewitt was
immediately transported to the prison’s
Health Care Center for emergency
treatment and then transported by
ambulance to Saint John’s, where he was
pronounced dead just after 8 a.m.
Dewitt arrived at the Pendleton facility on
Jan. 14 and was serving a 17-year
sentence for dealing in a controlled
substance and a 10-year sentence for
felon in possession of a firearm. He was
sentenced in Bartholomew County with a
projected release date of November
2017, according to the release.
The attack remains under investigation by
state police and Pendleton Correctional
police officers. The two inmates
suspected in the attack have been put
into segregation.
The maximum security portion of the
facility has been put on lockdown status
with visits stopped until further notice.
The lockdown won’t include the minimum
security dorms outside of the walls of the
facility. Those units, at this time, will
continue to operate normally, according
to the release.
Dewitt’s body will be transported to Ball
Memorial Hospital for an autopsy, the
release stated.