A prison inmate sentenced out of Colusa County last August was killed in his cell on Saturday in what investigators are calling a homicide.
Benjy Stephen Wade, 40, of Woodland, who has a long criminal history in Colusa County, was serving a 13-year sentence in High Desert State Prison for second degree robbery with use of a firearm, after Williams police officers arrested him on March 22 on multiple felony charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and vehicle theft.
Wade was found unresponsive in his cell around 5 PM on Jan. 8. Prison officials said officers attempted to perform live-saving measures, but Wade succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 5:15 PM.
Wade’s cellmate, John C. Connell, a career criminal, has been identified as the suspect in this case. Connell, 55, is serving life without the possibility of parole after being sentenced to his “third strike” in Sutter County after he escaped from jail.
Connell was first sentenced to state prison in 1989 for robbery with a firearm and battery with serious injury.
Wade’s death remains under investigation by the High Desert Investigative Services Unit and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department. His family has been notified.
The alleged killing was the second in a California prison on Saturday.
California State Prison officials in Sacramento said Shamar L. Thornton, 36, allegedly killed his cellmate, Deandre A. Lewis, 37, who was serving life without parole for rape, pimping, pandering a minor, sex trafficking, torture, and other serious felonies.
Thorton was serving life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.
That case also remains under investigation. ■