Johnathan Namauleg
Jonathan Namauleg, 21, of Maui, was held at Saguaro Correctional Center, a private prison in Eloy, Arizona, run by Corrections Corporation of America, which housed people sent from Hawaii. His mother describes him as always joking around and loving to cook, and he had graduated from Maui High School and worked as a prep cook and dishwasher. On August 6, 2015, his cellmate activated a distress button to say he needed medical attention, and Jonathan was found unconscious and face down on his cell floor, then died at a hospital around 5 p.m. The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, saying he was strangled, and prosecutors have charged his cellmate with first-degree murder, while a VICE investigation raises questions about a reported delay in officers' response and his family's wrongful-death lawsuit says the company failed to keep him safe.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide by strangulation; his family's lawsuit says the company that ran the prison failed to keep him safe, and a VICE investigation questions a delay in officers' response to his cellmate's distress call.
Reported by: Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Pinal County prosecutors; his family's wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); VICE investigation (reporters).
Lawsuit: His mother filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Corrections Corporation of America over his death at Saguaro Correctional Center; no settlement or award amount is reported.
Sources (6)
- Maui Inmate Dies at Arizona Correctional Facility
- Death of Hawaii Prisoner Under Investigation at Arizona Prison
- Death of Hawaii Prisoner in Arizona Prison Is Ruled a Homicide
- Medical examiner says Hawaii inmate who died was strangled
- A Death in Arizona
- Investigative Report Seeks Answers to Maui Inmate Death at Mainland Prison