Robert Anthony Hearn
Robert Anthony Hearn, 69, of Thousand Palms, died on March 17, 2015, at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility near Banning, where he was held in the section of the jail that houses people with mental health needs. He was found in his cell with fatal injuries, and the Riverside County Superior Court case treats his death as a homicide. His cellmate, Salvador Gil Vega, was charged with murder. A court later found Vega not competent to stand trial; in June 2016 he was found competent after treatment, with proceedings set to resume in July 2016.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. A cellmate, Salvador Gil Vega, was charged with murder after Hearn was found in his cell with fatal injuries, and a court later found Vega not competent to stand trial.
Reported by: Riverside County Superior Court (court).