Arizona state Senate Republicans are seeking answers after the latest in a series of inmate deaths.
The senators are asking the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, as well as Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, about conditions within state prisons.
Indalecio Garcia died Monday at Abrazo West Campus, a hospital in Goodyear. He was incarcerated at Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis in Buckeye, about 45 miles west of Phoenix. The death is under investigation.
If proven to be a homicide, Garcia’s death would be the 11th inmate homicide in Arizona correctional facilities during fiscal year 2025.
According to a state Senate GOP press release, this represents a sharp increase in homicides in correctional facilities. Previously, the last four years averaged two homicides per year.
Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Kevin Payne, R-Peoria, sent a letter to ACDRR Director Ryan Thornell on June 4, trying to investigate the violent incidents that have occurred at prisons.
Payne gave Thornell a deadline of Wednesday, June 25, to provide him with information about his investigation, but Thornell reportedly did not respond.
The chairman said the longer he waits, the longer it takes to get “to the bottom of the gaps in security at [Arizona] state prisons,” which may cause more lives to be lost.
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Author: Ray Hilbrich
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