Valley State Prison inmate found dead, murder probe launched

CHOWCHILLA, Calif. (AP) — Officials at Valley State Prison in California are investigating the death of an inmate as a possible homicide.

Last Thursday morning, a 44-year-old inmate was found unresponsive in a dormitory. Life-saving measures were started and an ambulance was called to the scene, but the inmate was later pronounced dead. His name was not released pending notification of his family.

How the inmate died was also not released.

No staff members were injured in the incident.

The inmate was serving a two-year, eight-month sentence for second-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance.

The eight-man dormitory has been sealed as a crime scene and the inmates housed there have been transferred to another area pending the outcome of the investigation.