The Nevada Department of Corrections confirmed the deaths of two inmates at High Desert State Prison. Michael Sonner, 57, on death row for the 1993 murder of Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Carlos Borland, died on Wednesday. Robert Villalobos, 38, serving a 25-to-life sentence, died on last Saturday, as mentioned by FOX5 Vegas.
Michael Sonner had been an inmate at Nevada Department of Corrections since 1994, convicted of first-degree murder. He had asked for the death penalty during his trial, and despite several appeals, his conviction and sentence remained unchanged. The Department of Corrections has not released much information about the deaths of Sonner and another inmate, Villalobos, but autopsies have been requested. Villalobos, labeled an "ex-felon" and "habitual criminal," started serving his sentence for two counts of first-degree murder in November of the previous year, according to FOX5 Vegas. The prison has not provided additional details about the conditions of their deaths.
The Nevada Department of Corrections has notified the families of the two deceased inmates. Nevada allows capital punishment, but the state hasn't executed anyone since 2006. As of January 1, there were 59 death row inmates in the state, as reported by News 3 LV. Autopsies for Sonner and Villalobos are expected to provide more details about the circumstances of their deaths.
