NORRISTOWN — For the second time in three months, authorities have reported the death of an inmate at the hands of another prisoner at the state prison in Skippack Township.
Nathan David Blose, 40, formerly of Coaldale, Schuykill County, was arraigned this week on charges of first- and third-degree murder in connection with the Nov. 1, 2024, death of his cellmate, 45-year-old Shaun Harden, at the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix.
The prison is located along Mokychic Drive in Skippack Township.
State police at Skippack said Harden was found dead in his cell at approximately 5:55 a.m. Nov. 1. An autopsy determined Harden suffered injuries to his neck, chest and back.
“Injuries were discovered on the victim which included hemorrhaging in his neck, hemorrhages on the right side of his chest and hemorrhages on the left side of his back,” state police Trooper Brad Furlong alleged in a criminal complaint.
Blose faces a Dec. 4, 2024, preliminary hearing on the charges before District Court Judge Adam T. Katzman. Blose will remain at the state prison without bail while awaiting that hearing.
Court records show that at the time of the alleged slaying Blose was serving a 5- to 10-year prison term on gun charges stemming from a 2019 incident in Coaldale.
Blose is the second inmate at the Skippack prison to be accused of killing a fellow inmate within the last three months.
Dwight Matthew Williams, 42, formerly of Philadelphia, is awaiting trial in Montgomery County Court on charges of first- and third-degree murder in connection with the alleged Aug. 4, 2024, fatal beating of Ashokkumar Guru, 67, who was found dead in his cell at the Skippack prison.
During the latest investigation of Blose, state police obtained video surveillance footage from the prison that showed that Blose and Harden were the only two people in the cell during the overnight hours from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. Blose returned to the cell at 4:17 p.m. Oct. 31 and at 7:37 p.m. correctional officers escorted Harden to the cell. No others entered the cell until 5:55 a.m. Nov. 1, when Harden’s body was found, according to the arrest affidavit.
“The cell was secured as a crime scene. In plain view on the floor of the cell was a puddle of blood,” Furlong alleged.
Court records show that Harden was serving a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for a conviction of aggravated indecent assault of a child stemming from a 2015 incident in Greene County.
Assistant District Attorney Gabriella Eileen Glenning, captain of the major crimes unit, is handling the case against Blose.
Court records indicate Blose is represented by lawyers from the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office.
