Two inmates from San Diego County have been accused of stabbing a fellow prisoner to death at a Northern California facility, officials said. The incident occurred last Friday at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, where 30-year-old John Patch and 36-year-old Zachary Harris are said to have fatally attacked 49-year-old Scott Cook. According to the San Diego Patch, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation found two inmate-manufactured weapons at the scene.
Details of the altercation reveal that Cook was allegedly stabbed multiple times around 9:30 a.m., per authorities' reports. Efforts to save him were unsuccessful, and Cook was pronounced dead shortly after the assault. Both Patch and Harris were subsequently moved to quickly begin serving time in restricted housing while the investigation proceeds, Times of San Diego shared. No other inmates or staff were harmed during the incident.
The background of the three involved is deeply marred by violent crimes. Cook had been serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for his involvement in a murder dating back to 1996. Authorities claimed he was also convicted of crimes including carjacking, kidnapping, grand theft, and possession of a firearm. Additionally, he had previous convictions for assaulting an inmate. Patch, convicted of second-degree murder for a violent encounter outside a convenience store in 2022, and Harris, sentenced for attempted second-degree murder among other offenses in 2021, now face allegations for another grave act within the prison's walls.
While the official cause of death has yet to be determined by the Lassen County Coroner, the CDCR is taking the incident seriously and has also notified the Office of the Inspector General. Information pertaining to Patch and Harris's legal representation has not been publicly disclosed.
