Inmate Death Under Investigation

Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

FORSYTH, Ga. – Special Agents with the Georgia Department of Corrections’ (GDC) Office of Professional Standards are investigating the death of an inmate at Hancock State Prison in Sparta, Ga., as a suspected homicide.

Agents have reason to believe offender Cesar Pastrana (GDC#1000914143) died as a result of injuries sustained during an altercation involving another inmate on March 13.  Medical personnel responded and life saving measures were performed.  He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 12:15pm by a hospital physician.  GDC, in conjunction with the GBI is conducting an investigation into the death, as standard procedure.

Pastrana was sentenced to Life in 2012, in Cobb County for Aggravated Child Molestation.

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 54,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.