Melvin Rivas Inoa
Melvin Rivas Inoa, 28, died on January 20, 2026, in his cell at Northern State Prison in Newark, where he had been housed with a cellmate for less than two weeks. An autopsy found severe blunt force trauma to his face, head and neck, and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office has charged his cellmate with murder. His family, who are in the Bronx, say he was screaming for help for about two days before correction officers opened the cell, and their attorney says this shows officers ignored his pleas. His sister said he often told their mother he was coming home soon, and he was weeks away from his expected release.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). An autopsy found severe blunt force trauma to his face, head and neck, and his family's attorney, Brooke Barnett, says officers ignored his pleas for help for about two days before opening the cell.
Reported by: autopsy; Essex County Prosecutor's Office (outside investigators); family attorney Brooke Barnett (family or their lawyers).