Investigators at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, California are investigating the death of a 36-year-old inmate transferred from Riverside County who was found unresponsive in his cell as a homicide, officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced this week.
The discovery was made on Sept. 30 at 10:45 a.m. as officers were conducting security rounds, according to a CDCR news release .
As officers approached a cell occupied by the victim, Justin Herbert, and his cellmate, Jesse Hernandez, they noted that Herbert was not responsive and immediately called for medical assistance.
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A state prison doctor responded and declared the 36-year-old inmate dead at 10:58 a.m.
SVSP investigators recovered an inmate-manufactured weapon at the scene and placed Hernandez, 38, in restrictive housing while the investigation is ongoing.
