California prison inmate’s death ruled a homicide

Authorities are investigating the recent death of an inmate at the California State Prison in Sacramento, as a homicide.

On the evening of July 18, prison staff found 23-year-old Anthony Francis Jr. unconscious on the floor of his cell. His cellmate, Chase Jenkins, was also in the cell at the time, officials said.

Francis was taken to the prison hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Sacramento County Coroner ruled his death a homicide last week.

Jenkins has been placed in restricted housing while the prison’s Investigative Services Unit and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office conduct an investigation.

Francis was serving a 12-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter in the 2020 death of a 46-year-old woman in Glenn County. He was also sentenced to an additional year and four months for two counts of battery against a custodial officer, to be served concurrently.

Jenkins, 38, was serving an 11-year sentence for second-degree robbery. He was classified as a second striker due to a prior serious felony conviction, and was transferred from San Diego County to the state prison in Sacramento in 2023, officials said.