BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is investigating the death of inmate German M. Merino as a homicide following an attack at Kern Valley State Prison on March 7, 2025.
According to prison officials, the attack occurred at 5:47 p.m. when inmates Gilbert Garcia and Rodolfo Cortez assaulted Merino in the dayroom. Prison staff intervened quickly to stop the assault and began life-saving measures while emergency medical personnel were called to the scene.
Despite these efforts, Merino, 37, was pronounced dead at 6:22 p.m.. An improvised weapon was recovered at the scene, and there were no other injuries reported.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office and the Investigative Services Unit have taken over the investigation, with the Kern County Coroner set to determine Merino’s official cause of death. Garcia, 43, and Cortez, 33, are currently in restricted housing pending the investigation’s outcome.
Merino was serving a life sentence without parole for first-degree murder. He had been incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison since 2012, after being received from Los Angeles County.
Garcia, who is serving an 11-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon, and Cortez, serving 24 years for offenses including second-degree robbery and assault on a peace officer, were also received from Los Angeles County.
The Office of the Inspector General has been notified as part of the ongoing investigation into this prison death.
