Inmates Charged with Murder 

(Pierre) – In separate cases, two penitentiary inmates, Christopher Michael Fonseca and Christopher Edward Hill, have each been charged with alternate counts of first and second degree murder. The penalty for first degree murder is either death or a mandatory life sentence. The penalty for second degree murder is a life sentence in the state penitentiary. 

Fonseca, 30, is being charged for the murder of his cellmate Andrew L. Young. Young, 23, was found unresponsive in his South Dakota State Penitentiary cell in July. Fonseca has been in the penitentiary since 1997 for felony counts of issuing bad checks. 

Hill, 26, is charged in the death of his cellmate Steven C. Heckel. Heckel, 49, was found unresponsive in his penitentiary cell in August. Hill has been in the penitentiary since 1996 for an aggravated assault conviction out of Rapid City. 

The arraignment for both men is scheduled for October 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the Minnehaha County Courthouse. 

The Attorney General’s Office will handle both prosecutions. 

-30-