SCI Phoenix Prisoner Who Killed Cellmate Will Head To Trial: Officials

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — The SCI Phoenix inmate who authorities said killed his cellmate, a man convicting of abusing a child, will head to trial, a judge ruled last week.

Nathan Blose, 40, has been charged with first degree murder in the killing of Shaun Harden, 45. Blose was serving 3.5 to 7 years for firearms violations, while Harden was serving four to eight years for multiple counts of indecent assault of a child, court documents show.

A formal arraignment will be held on March 26, Judge Adam T. Katzman with Magisterial District Court 38-1-24 ruled. A trial date will be set then.

Court documents and an affidavit of probable cause did not disclose much context or circumstances surrounding the incident, nor did they touch on a motive.

The incident was uncovered at around 5:55 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.

It occurred during the overnight hours, and surveillance video confirmed that only Blose and Harden were inside the cell from 7:37 p.m. the night before until Harden's body was discovered in the morning, officials said.

An autopsy found injuries to Harden's neck, chest, and back, police said.

Blose was arraigned on Nov. 20, 2024 and has remained in custody at SCI Phoenix since the charges were filed.