Illinois prisoner accused in inmate's death
PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. - An inmate of a southern Illinois prison has been accused of causing the beating death of a fellow inmate.
The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports 22-year-old former Barry resident Austin Sherfy is charged in Perry County with involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery.
Authorities allege Sherfy killed Paul Rhoden last September when both were inmates at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center. The criminal complaint alleges Sherfy hit Rhoden on the head, face or neck with either his elbow or fist, causing the victim's death.
Sherfy later was transferred to the maximum-security Menard Correctional Center near Chester, southeast of St. Louis.
He's now jailed in Perry County, with a hearing scheduled for July 16 on the manslaughter count.
Online court records don't show whether he has an attorney.