California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the Jan. 12, 2026, death of an inmate at the California Medical Facility (CMF) as a homicide.
On Jan. 4, 2026, at 1920 hours, officers responded to a physical altercation between Inmates Joe Duty Jr. (BZ5859) and Stephenson C. Kim (AL5155) in a housing unit. Kim was found unconscious and officers immediately responded, initiating life-saving measures on Kim and activated 911. Kim was taken immediately to the prison’s triage and treatment area and subsequently transferred to an outside medical facility. Inmate Duty was medically evaluated and placed in restricted housing.
On January 12, an outside medical facility physician pronounced Inmate Kim deceased at 1830 hours.
Inmate Duty remains in restricted housing pending an investigation by the CMF Investigative Services Unit and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of the Inspector General has been notified.
Inmate Kim, 45, was most recently received from Orange County on May 23, 2012. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for first degree murder and attempted first degree murder with enhancements for the intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury or death and the discharge of a firearm.
Inmate Duty, 30, was most recently received from San Joaquin County on Feb. 14, 2025. He was sentenced to 14 years for rape with force / violence / fear of a minor 14 years of age or older and lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 with force / violence / fear.
