Man Who Beat Fellow Inmate To Death Found Dead In Montco Jail

The man accused of stomping another inmate to death in March has been found dead in Montgomery County Correctional Facility, authorities confirmed.

Joseph Michael Hodum, 38, of Philadelphia, was found dead by hanging on July 27, the Montgomery County Coroner's Office confirmed.

Authorities said that the manner of death was suicide.

Hodum's death comes almost exactly four months following the killing of his cellmate, 50-year-old Stephen Klampfer of Norristown.

Hodum faced charges of attempted murder for the brutal assault, in which he stomped on Klampfer's head at least 20 times, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Before that attack, he was serving out a sentence of four to 23 months for comparatively minor charges: conspiracy-theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, loitering and prowling, and possession of an instrument of crime.

It is not clear what caused the incident. An investigation revealed that it began with Hodum standing at the cell door yelling, while Klampfer lay on his back in his bed, according to authorities.

Hodum later told police that he attacked Klampfer after Klampfer approached him from behind "in a sexual manner," according to an affidavit of probable cause. But authorities said that "directly conflicts" with evidence that Klampfer was lying in his bed leading up to the assault.

After a few moments of yelling, Hodum went over to Klampfer and began his attack, police said. Hodum repeatedly punched him in the head, and when Klampfer rolled onto the floor in an apparent attempt to escape, Hodum stomped on his head "more than 20 times," the DA said.

During the length of the attack, Klampfer never raised his hands to defend himself or fight back, authorities said.

The stomping continued after Klampfer was knocked unconscious, and Hodum did not stop until he was pulled off by corrections officers.

Klampfer was taken by helicopter to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, and he passed away two weeks later, on April 13.