Man incarcerated at California State Prison Sacramento dies; homicide investigation underway
Updated: 12:21 PM PST Feb 25, 2026
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating after a 49-year-old man died after being found unresponsive in his cell at California State Prison, Sacramento on Monday. John Cisneros, 49, was pronounced dead by outside medical ambulance staff. His cellmate, Irvin Sanchez, 34, was detained and placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by SAC Investigative Services Unit and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of the Inspector General has also been notified.Cisneros had been at the prison since being received from Los Angeles County on July 6, 2015. He was serving a five year sentence for second-degree robbery and while incarcerated was sentenced in 2017 to 28 years for penetration, oral copulation and attempted rape with force/violence/fear of immediate bodily injury.Sanchez came to SAC from Los Angeles County on Feb. 27, 2013. He was sentenced to 18 years for attempted second-degree murder with enhancements of street gang act and use of a firearm, and one year, four months for concealing a firearm in a vehicle, to be served concurrently.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating after a 49-year-old man died after being found unresponsive in his cell at California State Prison, Sacramento on Monday.
John Cisneros, 49, was pronounced dead by outside medical ambulance staff.
His cellmate, Irvin Sanchez, 34, was detained and placed in restricted housing pending an investigation by SAC Investigative Services Unit and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of the Inspector General has also been notified.
Cisneros had been at the prison since being received from Los Angeles County on July 6, 2015. He was serving a five year sentence for second-degree robbery and while incarcerated was sentenced in 2017 to 28 years for penetration, oral copulation and attempted rape with force/violence/fear of immediate bodily injury.
Sanchez came to SAC from Los Angeles County on Feb. 27, 2013. He was sentenced to 18 years for attempted second-degree murder with enhancements of street gang act and use of a firearm, and one year, four months for concealing a firearm in a vehicle, to be served concurrently.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel