38-year-old IDOC inmate housed at private prison in Arizona dies after assault
ELOY, Arizona On Wednesday, a prisoner assault in a private prison in Arizona claimed the life of an Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) inmate.
In a post on X, IDOC verified the death, stating that the 38-year-old IDOC inmate passed away in the Saguaro Correctional Center (SCC) following “life-threatening injuries following an assault on Wed., 8/20/25.”
CoreCivic, a private prison corporation with operations and facilities across the US, owns and runs SCC.
“On the day in question, SCC staff received a report of an inmate assault at 8:37 a.m. and upon arrival found an unresponsive inmate,” Ryan Gustin, senior director of public affairs for CoreCivic, told Idaho News 6. The staff started administering life-saving measures right away. After taking over, the medical staff asked for emergency medical support.
The individual was declared dead at 9:16 a.m. when EMS arrived on the scene and took over medical treatment and attempted life-saving efforts, but were unsuccessful.
After establishing a crime scene, SCC officials informed IDOC of the inmate’s passing, according to Gustin.
The Eloy Police Department has since identified the deceased detainee as Christopher Pendleton.
In December 2022, Pendelton was arrested by the Meridian Police Department on four counts of child sexual abuse.
No inmate has been identified as the alleged perpetrator of the fatal assault.
The incident is being looked into by the Eloy Police Department.
When Idaho News 6 requested an interview with the Saguaro Correctional Center warden, CoreCivic refused.
