Juan Villanueva
Juan Villanueva, 53, died on February 24, 2023, at North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, where he was held in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He was found unresponsive in his cell, and after prison staff tried to revive him he was pronounced dead at the prison's treatment area at 9:03 a.m. The prison said he was attacked and is treating the death as a homicide, and the Kern County Coroner's Office has reported ligature strangulation as the cause. The coroner's findings were reported in May and September 2023, and a cellmate has since been charged with murder in his death.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. CDCR is investigating the death as a homicide, and the Kern County Coroner's Office reports ligature strangulation; the cellmate has been charged with first-degree murder.
Reported by: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (the agency that held him); Kern County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Kern County District Attorney (outside investigators).
News reports (7)
- NKSP Investigating Death of Incarcerated Person as Homicide - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- North Kern State Prison inmate dies after found unresponsive, cellmate was serial killer
- A man who killed 7 is suspected in his cellmate's slaying at a California prison
- Death of North Kern State Prison inmate being investigated as a homicide
- Ramon Escobar inmate murder: Convicted Los Angeles serial killer accused of killing Juan Villanueva at North Kern State Prison
- North Kern State Prison inmate died of strangulation, cellmate was serial killer
- Serial killer charged with first-degree murder of cellmate in North Kern State Prison