California prison investigates inmate death as homicide

DELANO, Calif. (AP) — Officials at a central California state prison say they are investigating an inmate’s death as a homicide.

Authorities at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano said Monday that guards found 33-year-old Daniel Muniz unresponsive in his cell in March.

He died of head injuries Friday at an outside hospital.

They say his cellmate, 36-year-old Toribio Mendoza, was treated for bruises, swelling and cuts consistent with a fight.

Mendoza was serving a life term from Fresno County for false imprisonment, criminal threats, illegally possessing a firearm, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree attempted robbery.

Muniz was serving a 23-year sentence from Tulare County voluntary manslaughter and illegally possessing and firing a gun.

The prison houses more than 3,400 inmates.