Cellmate Murder Blamed On Former Cabazon Man

CABAZON, CA — A former Cabazon man, locked up in Northern California for a deadly Riverside County stabbing, is now accused of killing his cellmate, prison officials say. Todd Richard Laverty, 46, has since been sent to the segregation unit at Mule Creek State Prison.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials say Laverty is a suspect in the death of fellow inmate Robert Dahl. Dahl was 36 and was serving nearly 25 years for second-degree robbery, manufacture/sale/possession of a weapon by a second-striker, and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.

Details surrounded the alleged murder are limited at this time. However, officials indicated Dahl was found "unresponsive" in the cell he shared with Laverty around 2:15 p.m. Monday.

"Custody and medical staff immediately responded and began lifesaving measures," the CDCR said in a news release. "Dahl was transported to the prison medical unit, but was pronounced dead at 2:56 p.m."

Officials added that "inmate movement" at the prison "has been limited" as the investigation into Dahl's apparent killing continues.

Laverty is serving an 18 year-to-life sentence for stabbing Noel Scott Adamczeski in the chest following an argument and fight just after midnight on Dec. 25, 2008, according to court documents. The 23-year-old victim died at a hospital.

Laverty was convicted of second-degree murder by a Riverside jury in October 2010 and began serving his sentence at Mule Creek the following month.

— City News Service contributed to this report / Image via CDCR