A convict killed his cellmate upon discovering that he was imprisoned with the individual who assaulted his younger sister. Shane Goldsby, then 25, was captured on video stomping on Robert Munger’s head on June 2, 2020. Munger, aged 70, was serving a 43-year sentence for crimes involving child rape, molestation, and possession of child pornography. Goldsby expressed shock at finding himself sharing a cell at the Airways Heights Corrections Center in Washington, US, with the perpetrator who harmed his minor sister. Around a month after the incident, Goldsby remarked, “It’s unbelievable to find yourself in the same facility, unit, and cell as this guy. It’s like winning the jackpot seven times in a casino.”
At the time, Goldsby was incarcerated for stealing a police vehicle. An inquiry revealed that due to different last names within their families, no direct link was identified between the two men. Goldsby detailed that the tension escalated as Munger shared disturbing information about his actions, which included images and videos. Goldsby claimed that despite his repeated requests for a new cellmate, his pleas were disregarded. Goldsby mentioned, “Upon arriving at that unit, I immediately requested a different cellmate, but my request was ignored.”
Furthermore, Goldsby activated an emergency cell button before the altercation, but no prison staff responded. He expressed, “I felt like this was allowed to happen.” In August 2021, Goldsby received an additional 298-month prison sentence for the murder. He extended an apology to Munger’s family through his attorney, acknowledging his regret for the situation and the pain caused to the victim’s loved ones.
During the court proceedings, it emerged that Goldsby had a troubled upbringing, enduring abuse from his drug-addicted mother and being moved through multiple foster homes. Reconnecting with his mother later led to substance abuse issues. By age 22, he was in prison and eventually crossed paths with Munger at Airway Heights prison.
The Washington Department of Corrections termed the incident as “unfortunate and complex.” While a policy was in place to prevent inmates with personal connections from sharing a cell, screeners were unaware of the relationship between Goldsby and Munger, leading to their housing together.