November 11, 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 2:55 p.m. on Oct. 14, two incarcerated people, Roland C. Corona, and Luis Alvidrez, allegedly attacked another incarcerated person, Isaac Duran with an inmate-manufactured weapon.

Duran sustained multiple stab wounds and was transported to outside medical for a higher level of care. On Nov. 9, at approximately 9:14 p.m., he was pronounced deceased while under the care of medical staff at Kern Medical Center – Bakersfield. No staff or additional incarcerated people were injured.

Both suspects have been moved to restricted housing pending investigation into this case. An investigation is 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 Duran’s official cause of death.

Duran, 41, was received from Tulare County on April. 17, 2003, to serve life with the possibility of parole for two counts of Attempted Murder first degree with enhancement of intentional discharge of firearm causing great bodily injury, assault with semiautomatic firearm, and street gang activity. While incarcerated, Duran was sentenced in Kings County to serve 12-year, four-month for two counts of assault by prisoner with deadly weapon/instrument, three counts of possession/manufacture of deadly weapon by prisoner, and battery on non-prisoner.

Corona, 57, was received from Fresno County on June 4, 2003, to serve life with the possibility of parole for robbery first-degree with enhancement of use of firearm, burglary first-degree with enhancement of use of firearm, false Imprisonment with enhancement of use of firearm, vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, criminal threat to cause great bodily injury/death as a third striker. While incarcerated, Corona was sentenced in Monterey County to serve twelve years for three counts of possession/manufacture of deadly weapon by prisoner.

Alvidrez, 33, was received from San Diego County on June 1, 2017, to serve an 18-year, four-month sentence for two counts of second-degree robbery with enhancement of personal use of dangerous or deadly weapon, and two counts of second-degree robbery as a second striker. While incarcerated, Alvidrez was sentenced in Kern County to serve five years for possession/manufacture of deadly weapon by prisoner and assault by prisoner with deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury as a second striker.

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