Las Vegas, NV – A man serving time for larceny was allegedly murdered by his cellmate at High Desert State Prison just days before his scheduled release. The victim’s family has filed a lawsuit against the Nevada Department of Corrections, claiming officials failed to protect him despite warnings from his cellmate.
Jacob Herman, 35, was reportedly stabbed and strangled by an inmate serving a life sentence for brutal murders. The lawsuit outlines systemic issues such as overcrowding and understaffing at the prison, asserting that these factors contributed to Herman’s death.
The lawsuit reveals that Herman’s cellmate, identified as “King,” had previously threatened him and exhibited a violent history. Despite the warnings, prison officials placed the two men in the same cell block in the days leading up to the incident.
On July 16 at approximately 2:50 a.m., King allegedly killed Herman and later informed corrections officers of the incident. The family of Herman claims the Nevada Department of Corrections acted with indifference to the threats made against him.
Herman had entered the Nevada Department of Corrections on May 20, 2024, after being convicted of larceny from a person. The complaint highlights King’s previous convictions, including the violent murders of a mother and her child.
Herman’s family seeks accountability from prison officials, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future. Following the incident, the Nevada Department of Corrections did not respond to requests for comment.