Authorities at Kern Valley State Prison are investigating the death of an inmate on Independence Day as suspected murder, according to a statement released by the California Department of Corrections Department of Corrections.
Prison staff discovered at about 6:21am on July 4th that 22-year-old Fernando Camarillo-Vantavantes was not responding to the cell bed. He appears to have been seriously injured, and his cellmate, identified as 50-year-old Albert Gonzalez, was present in the cells at the time, officials said.
Corrections responded immediately, enabling Code 1 medical emergency and began life-saving measures. Paramedics arrived at the scene, but it was declared that Camarillo Urbantes had died at 7am in the prison triage and treatment area.
No other injuries have been reported and movement is limited in the housing units where the incident occurred to assist with an ongoing investigation.
From left to right: Fernando Camarillo Akubant (deceased), Albert Gonzalez. (Commentary of the Kern Valley State Prison)
Gonzalez was placed in a restricted housing complex for the prison’s Investigation Services Department and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office to conduct a joint investigation. The inspector’s office has also been notified, and the Kern County Coroner will determine the official cause of death.
Camarillo Cruvantes had sentenced Santa Barbara County to 21 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter due to his intensification of firearm use. He was also sentenced to three years of concurrent prison for firearm assault. In 2023, during his jail time, he was sentenced to another three years in prison for producing a deadly weapon.
Gonzalez recently sentenced Los Angeles County to 11 years in 2019 and returned to jail for carjacking. He was also sentenced to eight more months on firearms-related charges from San Bernardino County.
The lawsuit remains under active investigation as staff members work to determine the complete circumstances surrounding Camarillo Cervantes’ death. Officials say additional details will be released once they become available.
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