Inmate's death in California prison investigated as homicide

A homicide investigation is underway into the death of an inmate found unresponsive in his cell at Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County, officials announced Tuesday.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officers were conducting security rounds when they made the discovery at 10:45 a.m. Monday, the CDCR stated in a news release.

Officers approached the cell occupied by Colin Hebert, 36, and Jessie Hernandez, 38, and called for medical assistance after observing Hebert was unresponsive.

“Life-saving measures were initiated and he was pronounced deceased at 10:58 a.m. by an institution doctor,” the CDCR stated.

Hernandez was placed on restricted housing pending the investigation.

“Officers recovered one inmate-manufactured weapon at the scene,” the release stated.

Hebert entered the prison from Riverside County on June 11, 2013, to serve life without the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder with an enhancement for intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury/death and assault with a firearm with enhancements inflicting great bodily injury and use of a firearm.

He also received an eight-year sentence while incarcerated for assault with a deadly weapon as a second-striker, according to the CDCR.

Hernandez entered the prison from Los Angeles County on July 22, 2004, to serve life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder with an enhancement for use of a firearm and attempted second-degree murder with an enhancement for use of a firearm.

He also received a 12-year sentence while incarcerated for assault by a prison with a deadly weapon as a second striker.

Salinas Valley State Prison opened in 1996 and houses more than 2,500 minimum-, medium-, maximum- and high-security inmates.