Three men in Nevada Department of Corrections custody have died this month at Las Vegas‑area facilities, the agency said, marking another grim stretch for the state’s prison system. The deaths occurred at separate locations, including High Desert State Prison, a hospice facility and University Medical Center, with autopsies requested as coroners review each case. Causes and manners of death have not yet been released while next‑of‑kin are notified and investigations move forward.
Who died, and where
The Nevada Department of Corrections identified the men as Otis Bishop, 24; Fili Fagaima, 61; and Quentin D. Moore, 29.
Bishop was pronounced dead at University Medical Center on June 24. He had been serving four to 15 years at Ely State Prison for attempted lewdness with a child under 14, according to press notices summarized by the Las Vegas Review‑Journal.
Fagaima died June 20 at Nathan Adelson Hospice. He was serving 15 to 45 years for second‑degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon at Southern Desert Correctional Center, the Las Vegas Review‑Journal reported.
Moore died June 25 at High Desert State Prison. He was serving more than 40 years to life for first‑degree murder and related charges, according to the Las Vegas Review‑Journal.
Autopsies and state policy
Corrections officials said the public notices on the three deaths did not specify causes or manners of death. Autopsies have been requested while coroners conduct their investigations.
The Nevada Department of Corrections notes on its mortality page that autopsies are scheduled for in‑custody deaths under state law (NRS 209.3815) and that contacting next‑of‑kin is treated as a priority, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections. The department also keeps a running tally of in‑custody deaths, and its statistics page lists 27 such deaths so far in 2026.
How this fits into a troubling trend
These latest deaths add to a string of inmate fatalities that has already drawn scrutiny to southern Nevada lockups this year. Earlier clusters of deaths at the High Desert and Southern Desert complexes, along with questions about medical care, staffing and contraband inside the facilities, have been documented in local coverage of three dead in two Vegas lockups.
What officials say and next steps
Advocates and attorneys have argued that the continuing series of deaths raises serious concerns about medical staffing levels, inmate access to care and the impact of contraband inside state prisons. The Nevada Department of Corrections has said it is investigating each of the three deaths, has notified next‑of‑kin and will release additional information after the relevant coroner reports are complete, according to the department’s notices.
Legal note
Under Nevada statute, autopsies are typically scheduled for in‑custody deaths unless next‑of‑kin objects within 72 hours. The coroner’s findings then determine the official cause and manner of death and can lead to referrals to law enforcement. Families and oversight groups have pushed for transparent coroner reports and clear explanations when multiple in‑custody deaths occur, and NDOC has said it will cooperate with coroners and the department’s inspector general’s office as appropriate.
