Hazelton Inmate Sentenced to 15+ Years for Murder with Homemade Knife

A West Virginia federal inmate has been sentenced to 15+ years behind bars for the brutal murder of a fellow inmate using a handmade knife.

Stephen C. Crawford, 45, was found guilty by a jury in December 2023 of assault of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily harm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Crawford used a homemade weapon to stab another inmate multiple times, resulting in the victim’s death.

Crawford will serve 188 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after his prison sentence is complete.

“The senseless violence that occurred in our federal prison system is a stark reminder of the dangers that exist within our walls,” said a DOJ spokesperson. “We will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Flower and Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducting the investigation.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the case.