Authorities believe a death row inmate was murdered at a prison in Southern California by three other inmates. Alberto Martinez was found dead inside the Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County on Thursday, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s news release. It is being investigated as a possible murder.
Prison staff observed Tyler A. Lua striking and knocking Martinez to the ground before continuing to strike him with punches and kicks. While Lue eventually left, two other inmates Jorge D. Negrete-Larios and Luis J. Beltran began hitting Martinez even while he lay motionless on the floor.
Staff then intervened with pepper spray and baton strikes to stop the beating, finding two weapons manufactured within the facility and inflicting injuries consistent with their use on Martinez who also sustained injuries consistent with those from such weapons. No staff or other inmates were hurt as a result.
Emergency responders were called to the scene and medical staff administered lifesaving measures to Martinez before taking him back to the prison’s treatment area where he was later declared deceased at 2:20 p.m.
Movement has been restricted in the yard where an alleged attack took place. Lua, Negrete-Larios, and Beltran were moved to restricted housing until an investigation is completed into this incident.
On August 17, 2010, from Orange County, 46-year-old Martinez was received and placed under conviction status for first-degree murder. Additionally, he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder with an enhancement for street gang activity, and two years for street gang activity – all to be served concurrently with his conviction sentence.
Read More About