Medical Examiner Details Death of Killer Dad, Who Burned 2-Year-Old Daughter, in Violent Arizona Prison
A 50-year-old inmate, Shawn Ryan Grell, was found dead in his cell at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Tucson on April 19. An autopsy report released this week confirmed that he succumbed to metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, a natural cause of death.
Authorities discovered Grell's body unresponsive in the Rincon Unit, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by an attending physician. The medical examiner's report noted no signs of injury on his body, dispelling rampant online speculation regarding a possible revenge killing by fellow inmates due to the heinous nature of his crime.
Grell was serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of his 2-year-old daughter, Kristen Salem, committed over 25 years ago. On December 2, 1999, he picked her up from a daycare in Mesa, promising a trip to see Christmas lights. Instead, he purchased a plastic gas can and gasoline from Target before driving to a remote desert area.
In a chilling act, he laid his sleeping daughter on the ground, doused her with gasoline, and ignited her. Kristen awoke engulfed in flames and managed to stagger about ten feet before collapsing. Grell later confessed to the crime during a press conference, recounting the details with unsettling detachment: “I took the gasoline and I poured it on her. I took the match and threw it on her.”
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His death comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Arizona Department of Corrections following a series of violent incidents within the prison system. Just 15 days prior to Grell's death, three inmates were murdered by Ricky Wassenaar, a notorious convict serving multiple life sentences for murder and involvement in one of the longest hostage situations in U.S. history. Wassenaar expressed his intent to target child molesters specifically, raising concerns about safety within the facility.
The medical examiner's findings have put an end to speculation surrounding Grell's death, confirming it was due to natural causes rather than foul play. His remains were transported to the medical examiner's office in a white body bag, revealing a frail figure weighing only 134 pounds.
As discussions about prison reform intensify, Grell's case serves as a stark reminder of the violent realities within the correctional system and the lasting impact of his horrific crime on the community.
