The cause of death of a 24-year-old accused felon who died while in sheriff’s custody probably won’t be known until later this year, a Riverside County coroner’s official said today.
Sonny Joseph Mazon died Feb. 4 at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
He had been arrested the week before and charged with attempted murder, false imprisonment and other felonies for allegedly holding his girlfriend against her will in his San Jacinto home and repeatedly beating her.
Superior Court Judge Elaine Johnson dismissed the case today after Deputy District Attorney Paul Svitenko presented Mazon’s death certificate to the judge in her Murrieta courtroom.
According to sheriff’s Deputy Elizabeth Donovan, the coroner’s office is conducting a “formal review” on the circumstances behind the defendant’s death.
Donovan said a review is standard practice following an in-custody death and told CNS that the investigation and autopsy likely will be completed in six months.
It’s unclear when or why Mazon was transported to the hospital from the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning after his Jan. 27 arrest.
According to sheriff’s officials, deputies were called to the defendant’s townhouse at 1547 Willowcreek Loop to investigate reports of spousal abuse. When deputies arrived, they discovered a 47-year-old woman with serious physical injuries, which she alleged Mazon had inflicted while holding her captive at the location, a sergeant said.
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Whats the big SECRET sherrifs???? a year to conduct an autopsy??? Really why? DO YOU KNOW HOW IT WILL TAKE MONTHS FOR AN ANSWER – if the body has already been buried, and it’s going to take 6 months still??? SURE!!! You all are being told lies- this is a veteran accused by some drug addict that he beat her. Then Presumed guilty and mistreated by the system…THANKS AMERICAN, really shows whats happening to our country with the VETERANS to take the fall first.