CDCR investigating inmate death as homicide

Centinela State Prison officials are currently investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide, a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation news release announced Monday.

At around 11 a.m. Sunday, a correctional sergeant discovered inmate Gerald Wayne Rowe, 27, had been stabbed while on the Facility A recreation yard.

Correctional staff sounded an alarm and initiated emergency life-saving measures. Rowe was transported to the prison’s triage treatment area where medical staff continued life-saving measures until a doctor pronounced Rowe dead at 11:44 a.m. Sunday.

Investigators searched the yard and recovered an inmate-manufactured weapon.

Investigators have identified inmate Andrew Jurjaks as a suspect in the homicide. Jurjaks, 35, was transported from Orange County on Feb. 28, 2014, to serve a 15-year sentence for attempted second-degree murder.

Jurjaks was placed in the prison’s administrative segregation unit pending the completion of the investigation.

Rowe was admitted to the prison from San Diego County on Oct. 17, 2013, for a six-year sentence for first-degree burglary, possession of a controlled substance in jail or prison and possession of a controlled substance for sale.

Rowe also received a four-year conviction from San Diego County in 2015 for possession of a controlled substance for sale, his second strike and, on Sept. 20, 2017, began serving a seven-year sentence from Riverside County for battery on a non-prisoner by a second-striker.

“Investigators from the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office are assisting prison officials with the investigation,” the CDCR news release stated.

“The Office of the Inspector General was notified.”