The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is investigating the death of a 29-year-old inmate at the Telford Unit as a Homicide.
According to TDCJ Public Information Officer Robert Hurst, on June 25th at 4:16 am, security personnel at the Telford Unit were conducting rounds when they observed 29 year old Pete Ayala unresponsive in his cell.
“His cellmate was restrained and removed from the cell,” said Hurst. “Staff began life saving measures on Ayala and called 911.”
Ayala was transported to Wadley Regional Hospital in Texarkana where he was pronounced dead the next day.
Preliminary indications are that Ayala was assaulted by his cellmate. Investigators with the Office of Inspector General – TDCJ are investigating the case as a homicide.
Ayala was received in December 2009 from Henderson County to serve a 40 year sentence for murder with a deadly weapon. His cellmate, 22 year old Justin Williams, was received in November 2016 to serve a 50 year sentence for murder with a deadly weapon.
