California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the July 4, 2025, death of an inmate at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) as a homicide.
At 6:21 a.m., staff observed Inmate Fernando Camarillo-Cervantes lying on the cell floor appearing to have serious injuries with his cellmate, Inmate Albert Gonzalez, standing in the cell.
Officers immediately activated their personal alarm device, announced a “Code 1 Medical Emergency,” initiated life-saving measures on Camarillo-Cervantes and activated 911. Camarillo-Cervantes was taken to the prison’s triage and treatment area where a local EMS paramedic pronounced Camarillo-Cervantes deceased at 7:00 a.m.
No other injuries were reported. Officials have limited movement in the housing unit where the attack occurred to facilitate the investigation.
Gonzalez has been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by the KVSP Investigative Services Unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
The Office of the Inspector General has been notified, and the Kern County Coroner will determine Camarillo-Cervantes’ official cause of death.
Camarillo-Cervantes, 22, was received from Santa Barbara County on September 9, 2022. He was sentenced to 21 years for voluntary manslaughter with an enhancement for the use of a firearm. He was also sentenced to three years for assault with a firearm to be served concurrent with the first sentence. While incarcerated he was convicted of possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon by an incarcerated person, an in-prison offense, sentenced by Riverside County on August 1, 2023, to three years.
Gonzalez, 50, was most recently returned from parole on September 24, 2019, with a new term from Los Angeles County. He was sentenced to 11 years for carjacking as a second striker with an enhancement under PC667(a)(1)[01] for prior felony conviction of a serious offense. He was also sentenced by San Bernardino County to eight months for attempting to possess or own a firearm as a felon or addict as a second striker to be served concurrent with the first sentence.
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