Crime & Safety

Death of Inmate at Southwest Detention Center Being Investigated as Homicide

The deceased inmate was discovered "unconscious and unresponsive" at 12:35 p.m. Thursday, Riverside County sheriff's Lt. Joe Borja stated in a news release.

Editor's Note: This post was updated at 8:44 p.m. May 10 with information obtained from jail records about the deceased inmate's arrest.

The death Thursday of an inmate at Southwest Detention Center, 30755-B Auld Road in Murrieta is being investigated as a homicide, according to authorities.

The inmate—identified by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Office as Julio Negrete, 35, of Quail Valley—was discovered "unconscious and unresponsive" at 12:35 p.m. Thursday, Riverside County sheriff's Lt. Joe Borja stated in a news release.

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It was later determined the inmate—who had been booked the day prior on narcotic charges—had been involved in a physical altercation with another inmate, the lieutenant stated.

"Lifesaving efforts were initiated by jail staff and emergency medical services responded," Borja stated. "The inmate was pronounced deceased by medical personnel on scene."

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Investigators from the Southwest Sheriff's Station and Riverside County Central Homicide Unit were notified and assumed the investigation.

The investigation was continuing and was being handled as a homicide, according to Borja. No arrests have yet been made in connection with the death, according to the lieutenant.

The inmate's death occurred less than a day after he was booked into the jail.

Sheriff's jail records show Negrete was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Interstate 15 and Highway 74 in Lake Elsinore. He was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI with a blood alcohol content less than .08 percent, driving without a license and failure to appear on previous charges of possession of drugs for the purpose of sale.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department encouraged anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Lead Investigator III Peters at the Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.


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