A 38-year-old inmate is dead after a stabbing inside Nevada’s largest prison, and the case is now officially being treated as a homicide. The inmate, identified as Jonathan Latorre, was pronounced dead at High Desert State Prison on May 8. So far, officials have released very little about how the deadly attack unfolded.
Coroner Rules Killing a Homicide
The Clark County coroner found that Latorre died from multiple stab wounds and classified the death as a homicide, according to FOX5. Corrections officials confirmed to the station that he was pronounced dead at the prison on May 8.
What Prison Officials Are Saying
The Nevada Department of Corrections said in a May 11 press release that Latorre, offender number 1308072, entered NDOC custody on February 19. He was serving a 48 to 126 month sentence for possession of a stolen credit card and attempted lewdness with a child, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections.
The department also said an autopsy was requested “per NRS 209.3815.” That statute directs the director to request an autopsy of offenders who die in custody under certain conditions, according to Justia.
High Desert’s Troubling Track Record
High Desert, a maximum security facility northwest of Las Vegas, has seen a string of violent incidents and inmate deaths in recent years. Advocates and some officials have raised concerns about safety and contraband inside the prison. Earlier coverage examined the facility’s rising prison death rate and prior stabbings.
What Happens Next
Officials have not said whether any suspects have been identified in Latorre’s killing, and “details about the stabbing” were not immediately released, FOX5 reported. The coroner’s ruling means the death will be handled as a homicide, and in such cases law enforcement and NDOC investigators typically pursue criminal and administrative inquiries. We will update this story if officials release more information.
