EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an inmate at the El Paso County Jail Annex and treating it as a homicide.
Six other inmates are now facing charges in the incident that happened Monday, Nov. 27.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, detention officers found an inmate inside his cell who was unresponsive.
Medical staff immediately began to provide medical treatment, but it was determined that the inmate had died.
The Sheriff’s Office Major Crime Unit and Texas Rangers were requested and began to investigate.
The dead inmate has been identified as 57-year-old Jesus Torres. He was in jail on probation violations on charges including possession of a controlled substance and human smuggling.
Detectives identified six inmates who were assigned to the same cellblock, and the Sheriff’s Office says they were responsible for the inmate’s death.
Warrants were obtained for the six inmates, and they have been subsequently rebooked on the added charges.
The following inmates are now facing the following charges:
Manuel Alejandro Vargas, 31 – murder – $750,000
Original charge: Booked Sept. 26 on charges of smuggling of persons, evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle and aggravated assault against a public servant (DPS charges)
Juan Alberto Ortiz, 18 – capital murder – $1,000,000
Original charge: Booked Dec. 18, 2022 – murder – https://www.ktsm.com/news/police-son-kills-mother-with-shotgun-after-argument-suspect-now-under-arrest/
George Lopez, 23 – murder – $7500,000
Original charge: Booked Dec. 30, 2021 probation violation for deadly conduct, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Jesus Adrian Rocha, 38 – murder – $750,000
Original charge Booked Oct. 26 – manufacture/delivery of controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Jovani Dionicio Ramos, 29 – murder – $750,000
Original Charge Booked July 24 – probation violation on smuggling of persons
Christian Carrillo, 25 – murder – $750,000
Original Charge Booked Aug. 31. – smuggling of persons
Jail administrators from both the Downtown Facility and the Jail Annex are currently working on separating inmates (to include placing certain inmates in individual “lock-down” cells) in anticipation of potential retaliation over this homicide, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
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