Death in Pelican Bay State Prison being investigated as homicide

DEL NORTE, Calif. — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the March 23 death of an incarcerated person at Pelican Bay State Prison as a homicide.

PBSP officers and medical staff responded when incarcerated persons Nathaniel Dorswitt and Derek Lantz allegedly attacked incarcerated person Joseph Hill on one of the institution yards.

Hill was taken to the prison's triage and treatment area for injuries he sustained from the alleged attack. He was then transported to a local hospital for a higher level of care; however, he was pronounced dead at 3:51 p.m., according to the CDCR.

Officers recovered one inmate-manufactured weapon, the CDCR said.

Dorswitt, 26, was sentenced to CDCR on Nov. 9, 2021, from San Bernardino County to serve a 15-year, sentence for first-degree burglary and attempted second-degree murder, a second-strike offense.

Lantz, 48,was sentenced to CDCR on July 27, 2016, from Orange County to serve a life sentence with the possibility of parole for attempted first-degree murder with assault with a deadly weapon and inflicting great bodily injury, a second-strike offense.

Hill, 53,was sentenced to CDCR on November 23, 2015, from San Diego County to serve a life sentence with the possibility of parole for multiple charges, including first-degree murder.

Officials have limited population movement on the yard to facilitate the investigation being conducted by PBSP’s Investigative Services Unit, the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office, and the Del Norte County Coroner.

Dorswitt and Lantz have been placed in segregated housing pending the investigation.

The Office of the Inspector General was notified and the Del Norte County Coroner will determine Hill’s official cause of death.

No staff members or additional incarcerated people were injured as a result of this incident.