Alberto Martinez Villarino, a 43-year-old Latino male, died on June 7, 2016, in Wilmington, Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records, his death was classified as a homicide. The details surrounding his death indicate that he was fatally beaten by other inmates while incarcerated at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County, California.
The incident occurred when three inmates attacked Martinez, leading to his death from injuries consistent with an incarcerated-manufactured weapon.
The attack on Martinez was observed by prison staff, who saw inmate Tyler A. Lua strike Martinez, knocking him to the ground. Lua continued to hit Martinez until he stepped away, at which point two other inmates, Jorge D. Negrete-Larios and Luis J. Beltran, began beating Martinez as he lay motionless on the ground. Despite the prison staff's efforts to stop the attack using pepper spray and a baton strike, Martinez succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the prison's triage and treatment area.
Martinez had been on death row since August 17, 2010, after being convicted of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder with an enhancement for street gang activity, and conspiracy to commit murder. He was involved in the kidnapping and murder of David Montemayor, a Buena Park businessman, in a plot orchestrated by Montemayor's sister. Martinez acted as the getaway driver in the botched kidnapping and murder attempt, which led to his conviction and subsequent death sentence.
The investigation into Martinez's death is ongoing, with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation treating it as a homicide. The three inmates involved in the attack have been moved to restricted housing pending further investigation. No motive for the attack has been disclosed, and no additional injuries to staff or other inmates were reported. The incident highlights the ongoing issues of violence and gang activity within the prison system, particularly among inmates on death row.
