Homicide Notebook Project

PA347

Homicide #9

PCSD: Homicide investigation launched after inmate's death ruled as fentanyl overdose

· Anthony Victor Reyes

 Feb 3, 2022 Updated Feb 3, 2022

 

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TUCSON (KVOA) - A homicide investigation is underway after the Office of the Pima County Medical Examiner uncovered that an Pima County Jail inmate died from a fentanyl overdose on Wednesday. The Pima County Sheriff's Department declined to say how Pedro Xavier Martinez Palacios, 24, got the fentanyl or why the death has been classified a homicide.

At around 10 a.m. Jan. 10, 24-year-old Pedro Xavier Martinez Palacios, an inmate housed in the Pima County Adult Detention Complex, was transported to the hospital in reference to a medical emergency. After his condition drastically declined, he was pronounced dead by the hospital staff at 10 a.m. Jan. 14.

While initially, Pima County Sheriff's Department reported no signs of trauma or suspicious circumstances in connection to the case, PCSD launched a homicide investigation following the medical examiner's autopsy.