A motions hearing is scheduled for today for Dwight Bowen, the former SCI-Pine Grove inmate who is accused of killing his cellmate on January 1st of 2019.
Bowen is charged with killing his 32-year-old Luis Santiago as the two were incarcerated at the state prison in Indiana County. Bowen had called for guards shortly after 10 PM that night. When guards arrived, they found Bowen at the cell window and Santiago was lying unresponsive on the floor, without a pulse and not breathing. An autopsy the next day showed the cause of death was asphyxia due to venous obstruction. The motions hearing will focus on a request of approval of additional funds to employ a forensic pathologist.
Bowen is serving a life sentence for guilty pleas to the 2001 murders of two toddlers, ages 3 and 1, in Philadelphia. The two were killed in a Molotov Cocktail firebombing of a row house after a dispute between Bowen and another man. Since the charges related to the death of Santiago came out, he has been housed at SCI-Houtzdale in Clearfield County.
A jury trial is set for September 21st in front of Indiana County President Judge William Martin.
