Nevada Prisons Investigate Four Suspected Homicides at High Desert and Southern Desert Amid Drug Debt Concerns

Nevada state prison officials are investigating a recent series of inmate homicides at two Las Vegas-area correctional facilities, High Desert State Prison and Southern Desert Correctional Center. The Nevada Department of Corrections confirmed that three inmate deaths occurred at High Desert State Prison between July 16 and August 6, contributing to a total of four suspected homicides over the past month across both prisons. Prison leaders have indicated that 'drug debt' may be a contributing factor in these incidents. In response to the violence, both facilities are currently operating under modified operations. Separately, a Nevada board has closed a Las Vegas funeral home after it was found to have failed in timely burial or cremation of bodies, including a case where a woman was not cremated for nearly 11 months.