Calipatria State Prison Investigating Inmate Death as Alleged Homicide
Calipatria, CA — January 11, 2026
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the alleged homicide of incarcerated person Mario Ramos, who died Sunday morning following an assault at Calipatria State Prison.
According to CDCR, the incident occurred at approximately 9:35 a.m. on Facility A Yard and involved incarcerated persons Mario Ramos, Deandre Powell, and Phillip Dimacali. Authorities said Ramos was assaulted by Powell and Dimacali in what was described as a two-on-one attack involving a weapon.
Prison staff intervened and requested medical assistance. Life-saving measures were initiated by medical personnel, but Ramos later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 10:06 a.m.
Powell and Dimacali were identified as the alleged assailants and were secured without incident. Both individuals have been placed in restricted housing while the incident is investigated by the prison’s Investigative Services Unit and the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office for possible felony prosecution.
Ramos, 48, was received into CDCR custody from Los Angeles County on April 16, 2001. He was serving a sentence of 85 years and eight months for six counts of second-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree attempted robbery. His earliest possible release date was March 13, 2065.
Powell, 30, was received from Los Angeles County on January 31, 2023, and was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree robbery, assault with a firearm, attempted carjacking, possession or ownership of a firearm by a felon or addict, possession of ammunition, and assault with a deadly weapon. His earliest possible release date was February 25, 2029.
Dimacali, 38, was received from Los Angeles County on March 27, 2025, and is serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for two counts of first-degree murder.
Calipatria State Prison, which opened in 1992, is located in Imperial County and houses minimum-, medium-, and maximum-custody incarcerated individuals. The institution employs approximately 1,000 staff members.
