The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is looking into a homicide that occurred on Friday at Kern Valley State Jail in Delano. A death row inmate, identified as Mario Rentalia, aged 36, allegedly attacked another inmate, Julian Mendes, who is 46 years old, around 10:30 a.m. on that day.
In a statement from the CDCR, officials reported that the staff instructed both inmates to cease their actions, but Mendes apparently did not follow the orders.
Initially, a chemical agent was used to disrupt the assault. However, more than 30 other inmates quickly joined in the altercation, resulting in further chaos.
Mendes sustained serious injuries, and after immediate medical assistance was provided, he was transported to the prison’s treatment area. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at 11:05 a.m.
Improvised weapons were recovered from the scene, although the specific types remain unclear. Meanwhile, Renteria is currently held in a restricted area while investigations proceed. Authorities have limited inmate movement in an effort to facilitate the investigation by the Prison’s Investigation Services Unit and the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
The Kern County Coroner will determine the official cause of Mendes’ death. Mendes had been incarcerated since December 2, 2004, after being convicted of first-degree murder involving two teenagers. Rentalia came into custody on April 27, 2022, also for first-degree murder, along with arson, and is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
Kern Valley State Prison, which opened its doors in 2005, has a capacity for over 3,100 inmates, housing both minimum and maximum security prisoners.
