Michael Fisher
Michael Fisher, 59, was a certified peer specialist who counseled other people held at Bent County Correctional Facility, and he had completed nearly every course available to him. He planned to become a drug and alcohol counselor, and his attorney said he remained positive and was developing peer-led mentoring programs at the prison. Fisher died on June 6, 2026, at the private prison run by CoreCivic in Las Animas, one of three men reported missing at a prisoner count that evening, and their bodies were found early the next morning. Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Alondra Gonzalez said investigators are treating the deaths as homicides and that two suspects have been moved to a more secure facility, but officials have not said how the men were killed or where. The coroner has not released a cause or manner of death, and his autopsy report was still pending in August.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). Prison officials say investigators are treating the deaths as homicides, and Amber Gates's lawsuit over the same attack alleges staff took hours to discover it and respond.
Reported by: Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Alondra Gonzalez (the agency that held him). The only account of how this person died comes from the agency that held him.
Lawsuit: Amber Gates, Charles Gates's mother, sued CoreCivic in Denver District Court over his death, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
News reports (17)
- 2 inmates killed, 1 injured in ‘incident’ at Colorado prison
- Statewide visitation freeze lifted after deadly prison incident; Bent County remains on lockdown
- 2 people dead in incident at Bent County Correctional Facility; statewide visitation suspended
- 2 dead inmates ID’d as Colorado Department of Corrections lifts most visitation restrictions
- Coroner ID’s 2 prisoners who died in Colorado prison, but officials won't say what killed them
- 2 Colorado inmates dead, 1 injured; all state prison visitations suspended
- 2 inmates who died in Colorado prison ID’d, but officials still mum about what happened
- Visitations allowed again at all Colorado state prisons but one after suspension following death of 2 inmates
- CDOC says two people dead from incident at Bent County Correctional Facility
- Colorado Prison Visitation Suspended After Two Inmates Die At Bent County Facility - Rocky Mountain Voice -
- State officials remain tight-lipped nine days after incident at Las Animas prison
- Colorado inmate who died this month had asked for new trial due to errors in lab evidence by Missy Woods
- 2 suspects involved in mysterious double homicide and assault inside Colorado prison, state says
- Colorado prison officials failed for more than 2 hours to call ambulance for attack survivor, records show
- Inmate killed inside Colorado prison had eye removed and 25 puncture wounds to face, autopsy shows
- Mother of Colorado prison inmate sues over gruesome killing, alleging ‘profound failure’ by CoreCivic
- Mother sues CoreCivic after inmates’ brutal murders at southeast Colorado prison