Cesar Pastrana, 33, was slain at Hancock State Prison in Sparta, Georgia, eight years into his life sentence, following a struggle with another prisoner.
A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Corrections said Pastrana’s death was being examined as a murder, but wouldn’t say how he died, whether it was related to his charges, or who the prisoner accused of killing him was.
Agents have cause to suspect offender Cesar Pastrana died as a consequence of injuries received during an incident with another prisoner on March 13, according to a GDC statement. Medical staff were sent, and life-saving measures were taken. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead at 12:15 p.m. by a hospital physician.
Pastrana was detained for the first time in February 2012, only a few days after a weekend-long “lock-in” event held by NorthStar Church, where he volunteered.
An adult present at the occasion was informed that Pastrana had abused youngsters at a house gathering in 2011. One victim was physically harmed as a result of the abuse he received.
Pastrana first rejected the allegations, but the church removed him from his position.
He eventually admitted in court to his offenses, which included child molestation and sodomy. Two of the nine victims were family members.
He’d previously been fired from a teaching assistant position for improper behavior with a pupil. But, before joining NorthStar, he had to pass a background check.
