ECI Inmate Receives Life Sentence for Murder of Cellmate

WESTOVER, Md. – An inmate at the Eastern Correctional Institute (ECI) has been given a life sentence for the brutal murder of his cellmate.

Following a two-day jury trial at the end of March, 27-year-old Tyjuan Chapple was found guilty of first degree murder and related charges. On Jun. 18, after a pre-sentence investigation, he was sentenced to life in prison in addition to the sentence he was currently serving.

On Mar. 29, 2025, Maryland State Police (MSP) and investigators from the Division of Corrections responded to ECI for a reported homicide. An investigation revealed that the victim, Shane Lanham, Jr., and Chapple were incarcerated together in a cell.

Officers were alerted to a cell, shared by Chapple and 28-year-old Shane Lanham, Jr. Upon arrival, officers removed Chapple after finding him with his shoes and legs covered in blood. Officers noticed Lanham lying on the floor unresponsive, also covered in blood, with multiple injuries to his face. Lanham died on the way to the hospital, and his autopsy revealed every facial bone on the right side of his face was broken. Lanham also had fractures on the left side of his face and injuries to his body and neck. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.

According to court testimony, multiple ECI staff and officers testified that this was the most horrific incident they had seen while working at the correctional center.

State’s Attorney Wess Garner commended the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their investigation and assistance in the prosecution of this case.