- Michael Galindo died after violence erupted at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in March
- The uprising was sparked by staff finding 150lbs of alcohol made by inmates
- Inmate Eric Ramos was charged with first-degree murder in Galindo’s death
- Surveillance video shows as many as 15 inmates attacking Galindo, but Ramos is said to have been the leader and was the only one investigators could identify
- No one has been charged in the death of the other inmate found dead after the riots, Damon Fitzgerald
One of two inmates killed during a Nebraska prison riot in March was stabbed more than 130 times, according to investigators.
Michael Galindo died after violence erupted at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution when inmates took over a housing unit.
The uprising was sparked by staff finding 150lbs of alcohol made by inmates, police said.
The deaths came two years after a larger riot at the same prison left two other inmates dead.
Inmate Eric Ramos has been charged with first-degree murder in Galindo’s death.
Michael Galindo, left, was killed during a riot at a Nebraska prison in March. Eric Ramos, right, has been charged with first degree murder
Violence erupted at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution when inmates took over a housing unit
During a hearing in the case Wednesday, Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Neal Trantham said Galindo died as a result of about 130 ‘sharp-force wounds’ and inhaling smoke from a fire set in the cell where he apparently tried to escape from his assailants.
Surveillance video shows as many as 15 inmates attacking Galindo, but Ramos was identified as the primary attacker, Trantham said.
Ramos’ attorneys asked how the investigator could identify Ramos when all inmates wear the same prison-issued clothing. They also noted some attackers draped towels on their heads to conceal their faces.
‘What you have is a “Where’s Waldo?” situation,’ said Jeff Gaertig, one of Ramos’ attorneys.
Trantham said Ramos is so far the only one involved he can identify by piecing together surveillance videos from different areas of the housing unit.
The judge ruled there was enough evidence for the case to move forward.
No one has been charged in the death of the other inmate found dead after the riots, Damon Fitzgerald.
Brad Hansen, who took over as warden soon after the killings, said the prison was too understaffed at the time to go in sooner to regain control of the housing unit.