Investigators at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, California are investigating the death of a 36-year-old inmate transferred from Riverside County who was found unresponsive in his cell as a homicide, officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced this week.
The discovery was made on Sept. 30 at 10:45 a.m. as officers were conducting security rounds, according to a CDCR news release.
As officers approached a cell occupied by the victim, Justin Herbert, and his cellmate, Jesse Hernandez, they noted that Herbert was not responsive and immediately called for medical assistance.
A state prison doctor responded and declared the 36-year-old inmate dead at 10:58 a.m.
SVSP investigators recovered an inmate-manufactured weapon at the scene and placed Hernandez, 38, in restrictive housing while the investigation is ongoing.
Hernandez was transferred to Salinas Valley State Prison from Los Angeles County in 2004 to serve life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder. While incarcerated, the 38-year-old received a 12-year sentence from Monterey County for an April 2023 in-prison assault with a deadly weapon.
The victim, transferred to the prison in 2013, was serving life without the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder. While incarcerated, he received an eight-year sentence from Lassen County for an in-prison assault with a deadly weapon.
Herbert’s official cause of death will be determined by the Monterey County Coroner.
No further details about how the incident may have unfolded or a possible motive in the homicide were provided.
