Inmate's Death At NJ Prison Investigated As Homicide: Prosecutor

LEESBURG, NJ — Authorities are investigating an inmate's death at Bayside State Prison as a homicide, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said.

At around 7:11 p.m on November 21, 41-year-old Martin Sanchez was found “unresponsive and injured” in his cell, appearing to be suffering from blunt force trauma, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Officials released information about his death on November 30.

Sanchez was later pronounced dead by medical personnel, the prosecutor’s office said. He was serving a sentence for theft after being convicted in Essex County, Department of Corrections records show. Court records show he was from Newark.

His death is currently under investigation by the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division.

Those with information about the incident may contact Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Christopher Johnson at 609-579-1431 or submit tips at CCPO.TIPS.

The incident is not the first report of violence at the men’s prison. Earlier this month, prison corrections officer John Makos of Millville admitted to physically assaulting inmates for both real and fabricated violations of the prison’s rule, which resulted in several inmate injuries and violated their civil rights, prosecutors said.

Makos is also named in a lawsuit brought by former inmates detailing the excessive use of force and violent environment in Bayside State Prison, according to an NJ.com report. Read more: NJ Corrections Officer Admits Assaulting Inmates: Feds

Patch's Michelle Rotuno-Johnson contributed to this article.