Hans Christian Anderson killed in prison with a sock, officials say

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A man already in prison for murder is now accused in the death of his cellmate, Hans Christian Anderson, 58, who was strangled to death with a sock, according to court documents.

Sheddrick Bentley, 38, is currently serving a 35-year sentence at Union Correctional Institution in Volusia County for second-degree murder.

Anderson, who was no relation to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, was serving a 25-year prison term for aggravated child abuse and four counts of sexual battery.

%

%

Officials reported that Bentley walked up to a corrections officer on Feb. 17 and, without explanation, asked to be handcuffed.

When the officer reported Bentley’s multiple requests to be handcuffed to a sergeant, Bentley said, “I did it. He made me do it,” court documents said.

Prison officials said they went to Bentley’s cell and found Anderson, his cellmate, dead on the floor with a sock around his throat.

Corrections officers tried to revive Anderson, but he was pronounced dead in the cell, officials said.

Bentley told investigators during an interview that while he was asleep, Anderson grabbed his genitals and “I snapped,” court documents said.

An associate medical examiner determined that Anderson died of strangulation and blunt-force trauma to the abdomen.

Bentley was charged with second-degree murder.

Cox Media Group