Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Nevada prison inmate dies in apparent suicide

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Jonathan Van Hook

Inmate Jonathan Van Hook died Sunday in his cell at High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs.

Van Hook, 40, was unresponsive when found in his cell, and the prison staff failed to resuscitate him, according to a press release from the Nevada Department of Corrections.

The death is being investigated as a suicide.

Van Hook entered prison in February and was serving a sentence of 10 years to life with parole for second-degree murder in the beating death of his landlord, Morteza Mostafavi. He was also serving a five to 20-year consecutive sentence due to the age of his victim, according to the release.

An autopsy will be conducted.

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