Two More Suicides at the AZ State Prisons.

This is getting very disturbing. For those of you who missed it, there have been a lot of prisoner suicides (Adams, Kulp, Bybee, and now these two fellows) and homicides (Tsosie, and the two Hawaiians - Medina and Nunuha in the CCA prison in Eloy) of late...what are they doing to those guys, anyway? They sure don't appear to be providing them with mental health treatment or supervising them very closely, considering that the ADC gets almost 10% of our total state budget to run their show. That's more than we spend on educating our children. Why can't we keep our prisoners safe?

It just seems real strange that Lester and Medina would manage to kill themselves the same day, and there's no information as to how. With all the homicides and gang stuff going on in our state prisons lately, I sure hope they get thoroughly investigated by someone. These were young men who were not facing life in prison or a death sentence.

To the guys on the yards these fellows were from (families - get the message in there): look out for each other and hang in there. Write to us if you need to connect with someone out here. We may not be able to do anything more than listen - and perhaps amplify your voice. We just don't want to see you killing yourselves or each other off any more, and every time someone suicides it increase the risk for all the other guys who are thinking the same thing.

Our condolences to Anthony and Robert's families and loved ones - as well as their buddies inside, if they had any.

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ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
1601 W. JEFFERSON
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007

(602) 542-3133

CHARLES L. RYAN, DIRECTOR JANICE K. BREWER, GOVERNOR

NEWS RELEASE

For more information contact:
Barrett Marson
bmarson@azcorrections.gov
Bill Lamoreaux
blamorea@azcorrections.gov

July 12, 2010

Inmate Death Notification

Tucson, Ariz. – Anthony Lester, 26, ADC #253529, died at University Medical Center Monday after being transported to the hospital following an apparent suicide attempt Sunday night.

Lester, sentenced out of Maricopa County, was serving 12 years for aggravated assault. He came to ADC May 18, 2010 and was held at the Manzanita Unit, ASPC-Tucson.

The death is under investigation by the department.

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July 12, 2010

Inmate Death Notification

Florence, Ariz. – Inmate Robert Medina, 29, ADC #121433, died while in Arizona Department of Corrections custody Sunday after apparently committing suicide.

Medina was found in his cell where he was pronounced dead after medical responders attempted life saving measures.

Medina, sentenced out of Maricopa County, was serving 15 years for kidnapping and armed robbery. He came to ADC April 28, 2009 and was held at the maximum security Browning Unit, ASPC-Eyman.

The death is under investigation by the department.