Authorities investigating man sent to prison for local robbery in death of cellmate

A man serving a sentence for a San Diego County robbery is being investigated in connection with the death of his cellmate, prison officials said Wednesday.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials say Anthony S. Francis Jr., 23, was found unconscious on the floor of his cell at California State Prison, Sacramento on July 18.

Francis was taken to the prison’s triage and treatment area, but he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

His death was ruled a homicide last week by the Sacramento County coroner, according to CDCR.

The cellmate, Chase Jenkins, 38, was with Francis at the time he was found unconscious, officials said. Jenkins has since been placed in restricted housing pending an investigation.

CDCR says Jenkins has been at the Sacramento prison since July 2023 after being sentenced to an 11-year term for second-degree robbery in San Diego County.

Francis had been serving a 12-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter. He was transferred to the prison out of Glenn County in June 2024.