Died in jail or a lockup
John Pimentel Cotta
John Pimentel Cotta, 30, died on April 22, 2012, while held at the Kings County Jail in Hanford. Prosecutors said his cellmate strangled him with a bedsheet about an hour after the lights went out. Officials described the death as the first homicide inside the jail. The cellmate later pleaded guilty to murder.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. Prosecutors say his cellmate strangled him with a bedsheet about an hour after the lights went out.
Reported by: prosecutors.