A Barstow man recently arrested in connection with a brutal assault on two women during a robbery and carjacking in Hesperia is now suspected of killing his cellmate in a Rancho Cucamonga jail.
Isaiah Mark Bailon, 26, is accused of murder in the killing of 38-year-old Zacarias Joseph Ruiz of San Bernardino in the cell the men shared at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which administers the jail facility.
Jail staff first found Ruiz unconscious, “with obvious trauma,” about 11:10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, sheriff’s officials stated.
“Deputies and jail medical staff performed lifesaving measures until emergency medical personnel arrived and transported Ruiz to a hospital,” the agency said in a written statement.
Ruiz died the following day. Investigators declined to disclose what type of injuries he suffered.
A formal cause and manner of death will be determined through an autopsy.
“Through investigation, detectives determined Ruiz and his cellmate, Isaiah Mark Bailon, were involved in a physical altercation before deputies found Ruiz,” according to the statement.
Bailon was being held without bail pending legal proceedings, records show.
Ruiz was in sheriff’s department custody after being arrested on May 5 in Loma Linda on suspicion of domestic violence and making criminal threats, county booking records show. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was awaiting a mental health hearing in his case, according to court documents.
Alleged killer was in jail for violent massage parlor robbery, carjacking
Bailon was initially arrested on Dec. 31 in connection with the beating of two women during a robbery and carjacking at a Hesperia massage parlor.
The crime took place about 10:20 a.m. at Lotus Massage, 15689 Bear Valley Road in Hesperia.
Bailon walked into the business and demanded property from two women working there, sheriff’s officials said at the time.
The suspect assaulted both victims until they turned over their cell phones and car keys, according to a sheriff’s department statement.
He then tried to drive away in one of the victims’ cars, but was unable to, the statement said. “Bailon then went back inside the business and continued to physically assault the victims with a glass vase.”
Both victims were hospitalized. Responding deputies found and arrested Bailon nearby.
Bailon, who was already on felony probation at the time of the Dec. 31 arrest, was awaiting trial on two counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of burglary and one count of carjacking, San Bernardino County Superior Court records show. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the Sheriff’s Special Investigation Division, Homicide Detail at (909) 890-4904. Tips may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow man accused of killing cellmate in San Bernardino County jail
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
