Authorities investigate Kern Valley inmate death as a homicide

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Officials at Kern Valley State Prison are investigating the death of an inmate. They believe he was killed by his cellmate.

Brandon Lowrey, 30, was found unresponsive in his cell at about 8:30 Sunday night. Despite efforts to revive him Lowrey died of his injuries about 45 minutes later.

He was serving a 10-year sentence for robbery and transporting a controlled substance in Tulare County.

Prison officials named Lowrey's cellmate, 33-year-old Thrasher Holmeyer, as a suspect. He was serving a life sentence for a murder in San Bernardino County.

There is no word on how the victim was killed or a motive.