OROVILLE, CA (MPG) – On the morning of April 30, 2022, Butte County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Deputies were conducting routine safety checks on inmates housed at the Butte County Jail.

Around 11:23 a.m., a Correctional Deputy discovered inmate Cristian Nunez-Paiafox, age 23, of Chico, unresponsive within his cell. Correctional Deputies located evidence Nunez-Paiafox used a bed sheet to commit suicide.

Correctional Deputies and jail medical staff immediately began providing Nunez-Paiafox with emergency medical treatment. Paramedics responded and provided additional emergency medical treatment. Despite the life-savings measures that were administered, jail medical staff and paramedics were not able to revive Nunez-Paiafox.

Butte County District Attorney’s Office Investigators and Butte County Sheriff’s Office Detectives responded to the jail and began investigating. During the investigation, personnel interviewed Correctional Deputies, medical staff, and inmates housed in cells adjacent to the cell occupied by Nunez-Paiafox. Investigators and detectives located evidence which confirmed Nunez-Paiafox used a bed sheet to commit suicide.

Investigators and detectives determined Nunez-Paiafox was housed in a cell by himself, and other inmates did not have access to Nunez-Paiafox’s cell. Investigators and detectives reviewed video surveillance and determined Correctional Deputies had been conducting hourly checks on Nunez-Paiafox. Prior to locating Nunez-Paiafox, Correctional Deputies conducted a check on Nunez-Paiafox at 10:38 a.m. During the 10:38 a.m. check, Nunez-Paiafox was alive, and he did not request any assistance from Correctional Deputies. An autopsy will be conducted by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office to determine Nunez-Paiafox’s cause of death.

Investigators and detectives determined Nunez-Paiafox was arrested by the Chico Police Department on April 28, 2022, for misdemeanor counts of battery and resisting arrest. He was subsequently booked into the Butte County Jail. Butte County District Attorney’s Office Investigators and Sheriff’s Office Detectives are actively investigating this incident.