Family of man killed at state prison in Camp Hill gets $1.5M

Spencer Kassel died a painful and terrifying death at State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill in January of 2025. According to Pennsylvania State Police, he was attacked by fellow inmate Hezekiah Campbell while both were alone in a prison exercise yard. Campbell awaits a criminal trial in Cumberland County for repeatedly stabbing and stomping on Kassel before prison staff arrived. That trial is expected to hinge on Campbell’s mental state at the time; defense attorneys have said they intend to make an insanity claim. But Kassel’s mom, Pamala Gazlay, believed the two men never should have been in that yard together, and sought damages on behalf of her son’s estate.

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Scoop News DeskCamp Hill, Pennsylvania · Published Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTCUpdated Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 5:45 PM UTC

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Harrisburg police say he randomly killed 71-year-old Kathryn Person in December 2021 and 59-year-old Kenneth Cobb in March 2022 , neither of whom Campbell had previously met. 29. according to an affidavit of probable cause written by police. According to Gazlay’s civil complaint, both men were diagnosed with serious mental illness and were classified as “high-custody” cases.

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