October 8, 2023 - DELANO – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the death of an incarcerated person at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) as a homicide.

At 6:37 p.m. on Oct. 6, two incarcerated people, Juan P. Camacho, and John Martinez, allegedly attacked another incarcerated person, Richard A. Aguirre with an inmate-manufactured weapon.

Aguirre sustained multiple stab wounds and life-saving measures were performed. He was transported via ambulance to Kern Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 7:20 p.m. No staff or additional incarcerated people were injured.

Both suspects have been moved to restricted housing pending investigation into this case. Officials have limited population movement on the yard to facilitate the investigation being conducted by KVSP’s Investigative Services Unit, the Kern County District Attorney’s Office and the Kern County Coroner. The Office of the Inspector General was notified, and the Kern County Coroner will determine Aguirre’s official cause of death.

Aguirre, 46, was received from Los Angeles County on April 08, 1998, to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder with enhancement of use of a firearm.

Juan Camacho, 46, was received from Los Angeles County on April. 24, 2012, to serve 47 years for attempted murder second-degree with enhancement of discharge of a firearm.

John Martinez, 52, was received from Los Angeles County on Sept. 14, 1998, to serve life with the possibility of parole for murder first-degree murder as a third striker with enhancement of use of a firearm.

KVSP opened in 2005 and houses more than 2,800 minimum-, medium-, maximum- and high-security incarcerated persons. KVSP offers academic classes and vocational programs and employs approximately 1,750 people.




Source: CDCR