BLYTHE – Officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) are investigating the June 22, 2024, death of an inmate at Ironwood State Prison (ISP) as a homicide.
At 7:01 p.m., three inmates – Jonathan Orduno, Juan Madrigal and Samuel Ricardez – allegedly attacked another inmate, Luis Padilla. Staff observed the attack and the audible yard alarm was activated. The three attackers fled the area but were quickly located and arrested without incident.
Padilla suffered multiple stab wounds and life-saving measures were administered. The facility’s medical staff and 911 were requested. He was transported to the facility’s triage and treatment area, where medical staff pronounced him dead at 7:38 p.m. No staff or other inmates were injured.
Two weapons made by prisoners were seized at the crime scene.
All suspects have been placed in a detention facility pending the completion of the investigation by the ISP Investigation Division and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. The Office of the Inspector General has been notified and the Riverside County Coroner will determine Padilla’s official cause of death.
Luis Padilla, 42, was admitted from Los Angeles County on December 11, 2001. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for deterring/deterring a victim or witness under certain circumstances. He was also sentenced to two years in prison for criminal threatening to cause great bodily harm, which is the imposition of an aggravated felony in conjunction with a street gang offense. He was also convicted of stalking, which is the imposition of an aggravated felony in conjunction with a street gang offense.
Samuel Ricardez, 28, was taken out of San Diego County on March 4, 2014. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for first-degree premeditated murder with aggravated charges of intentionally discharging a firearm with serious bodily injury. He was also sentenced to five years in prison for second-degree robbery with aggravated charges of use of a firearm and committing a crime of violence against the street gang.
Jonathan Orduno, 23, was admitted from San Diego County on August 31, 2022. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder with aggravated use of a firearm.
Juan Madrigal, 26, was admitted on March 15, 2023, from San Diego County. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole for first-degree intentional murder, with aggravated charges for intentionally discharging a firearm with great bodily injury. He was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment for second-degree murder and five years imprisonment for discharging a firearm into an inhabited dwelling/vehicle/aircraft.
Opened in 1994, Riverside County ISP houses 3,165 minimum, medium and maximum sentence inmates. The prison offers academic instruction, vocational training, work placement and rehabilitation programs and employs more than 1,200 staff members.
Jonathan Orduno
Juan Madrigal
Samuel Ricardez
Luis Padilla
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2024
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