Pennsylvania Corrections Officer Dies 11 Days After Being Attacked by Inmate

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections said an officer at State Correctional Institute-Somerset died Monday from injuries sustained in an attack earlier this month at the hands of a 22-year-old inmate, Penn Live reports.

Paul Jawon Kendrick is accused of fatally beating Sgt. Mark Baserman just before 7 p.m. Feb. 15, which led to Baserman's hospitalization for 11 days. Corrections Secretary John Wetzel reported Baserman's death in a news release Monday afternoon.

"The minute we learned of this unprovoked, brutal attack on Sgt. Baserman and another officer who came to his aid our hearts sank," Wetzel said in the news release. "We are greatly saddened by Sgt. Baserman's death and our thoughts are with his family at this time." 

The Tribune-Democrat obtained charging documents in the assault and reported that  the men were talking when Kendrick suddenly lashed out and struck Baserman in the face 8 to 10 times. Baserman fell to the ground, which is when Kendrick began kicking him in the head with his heavy Timberland boots. Kendrick's motive for the attack was because Baserman had confiscated a towel earlier in the day Kendrick was using to block other's view of his bunk, according to the report.