TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Authorities say an inmate has died at the Pima County jail and his cellmate is suspected in the homicide case.
Pima County Sheriff’s officials say corrections officers were conducting welfare checks of inmates about 10 a.m. Wednesday when they found 24-year-old Branden Geoffrey Roth with obvious signs of trauma.
They called for medical assistance and jail medical staff and Tucson Fire Department personnel came to Roth’s aid.
Authorities say Roth was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sheriff’s officials say homicide detectives have arrested Roth’s cellmate, 23-year-old King Yates.
They say Yates is facing first-degree murder charges.
He was arrested last November in the shooting death of his 24-year-old wife, Cassandra Yates, and is awaiting trial.
Sheriff’s officials didn’t immediately say how long Roth had been incarcerated and on what offense.
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