Maryland State Police Investigate Jessup Inmate Death as State Tracks Sixth Custody Death in Two Months

Death at Jessup Correctional Institution triggers homicide-unit response and medical examiner review

Maryland State Police are investigating the death of a state prison inmate at Jessup Correctional Institution in Anne Arundel County, a case that extends a recent cluster of in-custody fatalities across the state’s correctional system.

The inmate, Javon Foster, 38, was found on the floor of his cell the evening of Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. His body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

State Police said the department’s Homicide Unit was notified at about 7:25 p.m. on Jan. 18 by investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services’ Internal Investigative Unit. Investigators reported that Foster’s cellmate was believed to be inside the cell at the time Foster was discovered.

Parallel investigations and what comes next

The investigation remains active. State Police crime scene technicians are assisting homicide-unit detectives, alongside correctional investigators. Autopsy findings are expected to be central to determining whether the death resulted from a medical emergency, suicide, overdose, or assault, and whether any criminal charges will be considered.

Maryland’s medical examiner system is responsible for investigating sudden, unexpected, or potentially suspicious deaths, including those occurring in custody. In practice, the office’s cause-and-manner determinations can take weeks or months to complete, depending on toxicology testing and case complexity.

Jessup’s recent history: repeated fatal incidents and pending facility changes

The Jessup prison complex has seen repeated death investigations in recent months and years, including cases where a suspect inmate was identified pending charging decisions. For example, in December 2025, State Police investigated the death of 23-year-old inmate Deon Smith at the same facility, with a suspect inmate identified while the case proceeded. In February 2025, State Police reported that the medical examiner ruled the death of 61-year-old inmate Warren Michael Griffin at Jessup a homicide.

Separately, Maryland officials have announced plans to close the Maryland Correctional Institution at Jessup (MCI-J) by June 30, 2026, citing the facility’s age, infrastructure degradation, and projected costs for major repairs. The state’s closure plan calls for phased relocation of incarcerated people and reassignment of staff to nearby facilities in Jessup and to institutions elsewhere in Maryland.

Key verified facts in the Foster case

• Javon Foster, 38, died at Jessup Correctional Institution on Jan. 18, 2026.
• The Homicide Unit was contacted at about 7:25 p.m. and the case remains under investigation.
• The inmate was found on the floor of his cell; his cellmate was believed to be present.
• An autopsy will determine cause and manner of death.

For incarcerated people’s families and state officials alike, the next definitive answers will depend on forensic findings and the investigative timeline that follows.