Inmate death remains mystery

SANDUSKY — The state might be confounded in its efforts to determine what killed a 22-year-old state prison inmate in July. Stevenson Shamar L. Stevenson, who is from Sandusky, was found dead in an isolation cell at the state prison in Grafton on July 6. An initial report said prison guards thought he was suffering from an overdose. They repeatedly administered Narcan, a drug used to revive individuals suffering from a deadly overdose of heroin or other opiates. But family members said Stevenson never used heroin or opiates and the state has not since confirmed an overdose. In fact, the state hasn't confirmed anything about what caused Stevenson's death. It's not clear if anyone from the prison department ever talked with his family about how he died. Prison officials, the Lorain County coroner and state investigators all refuse to say anything about the status of the investigation or release any preliminary findings. Prison officials won't even say why he was placed in an isolation cell hours before he died, or if there is any foul play suspected. "Mr. Stevenson was placed in the disciplinary housing area on July 6, 2021," JoEllen Smith, a prison spokeswoman told the Register Aug. 25. "The alleged rule violation is part of the pending investigation." "We have received your request and are working on it," Bradley Shaw, a spokesman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, responded on Aug. 16 to a public records request from the Register for information on the cause of death. The Patrol is responsible for conducting suspicious death investigations in prisons. Since then, Shaw has been unresponsive to follow-up questions and has never provided any information about the investigation into Stevenson's death. "This is still an open investigation," Patrol Lt. Lieutenant Nathan E. Dennis wrote to the Register Wednesday, declining to provide any update. The Lorain County coroner's office told the Register it's awaiting toxicology reports but it won't say what testing is incomplete or why there is a delay. Initially, the coroner stated it would take about three weeks to determine a cause of death. It's been more than three months. More recently, the office provides no explanation for why there's been no determination. "This case remains under investigation," coroner Frank Miller responded Oct. 12 to an inquiry from the Register. "A cause and manner of death will be determined at the conclusion of the investigation." Miller hasn't yet made any record of any findings. That appears to be a practice — avoiding any documentation in a death case until the final documentation — to avoid being required to release preliminary records. State prison officials seem intent on avoiding any questions. "Your emails have been sent to our legal office yesterday and today to respond to you," one response the Register received in July states. The legal office never responded. There seems to be just one answer from public officials about what caused Stevenson's death. "The death is currently under investigation," Sarah French, a prison spokeswoman told the Register July 9. "The investigation is still pending," she wrote back on Aug. 10. There's no explanation for why there's been no progress concluding the investigation or at least making a ruling on a cause of death. "We have checked on your request and we understand that the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigation is still pending," French wrote on Sept. 23. Stevenson was sentenced in November 2018 to serve 2½ years after accepting a plea deal. He was originally indicted by an Erie County grand jury on felonious assault, possessing a defaced firearm and other charges.