Homicide Report > Jonathan Najera, 20
Jonathan Najera, 20
Died March 1, 2011
Jonathan Najera, a 20-year-old Latino, was strangled Tuesday, March 1, at the Men's Central Jail in the 400 block of Bauchet Street in Chinatown, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Najera was killed sometime between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. His death was not detected by deputies until morning, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker, because “during checks of the cell…the victim appeared to be sleeping in his bunk.”
Two other inmates were in the cell, Parker said. The suspect was awaiting trial on a murder charge when the incident occurred.
“When you have a significant number of people in custody for murder and attempted murder, and then others with various other charges, people of like crimes are often housed together,” said Parker.
Najera's cellmate later confessed to killing him, officials said Friday. They have not released the suspect's name.
The victim was locked up at Men’s Central Jail on attempted murder charges, and his attacker was there on a murder charge, according to authorities.
Cells at the downtown Los Angeles jail are not under constant monitoring. The jail has long been criticized, even from within the department, as aging, understaffed and overcrowded.
— Robert Faturechi
Read about developments in this case: Inmate killed weeks after judge asked that sheriff's officials review his safety
Five reader comments about Jonathan Najera
Men's Central has always been a tough jail!
March 8, 2011 at 1:18 p.m.
How much do you want to bet that it will take six years and 15 million dollars to convict the man who killed him? Even though we know who did it.
March 8, 2011 at 10:19 p.m.
i think that jail is really ugly and probably the worst jails they have in los angeles. they should really do something about the over crowding of the jail. when put alot of guys in one cell for 23 hr days . something bad is evetually going to happen. it sucks for those guys who arent violent criminals that have to be put with murders.
March 25, 2011 at 11:05 a.m.
@ma89...so if ATTEMPTED MURDER isn't a serious crime what is a serious enough crime to be locked up with the 'violent criminals'?
March 28, 2011 at 12:28 a.m.
@Syscom3...I'll take that bet and lets make it $15 million. It'll only take about two years and maybe one million.
March 28, 2011 at 10:22 p.m.
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