A New Jersey inmate was beaten to death in his cell at Northern State Prison in Newark, and his body was not discovered for nearly two days, according to authorities. Melvin Rivas Inoa, 28, suffered severe blunt force trauma to his face, head, and neck, an autopsy revealed.
Inoa's cellmate, Abdul J. Bryant, 29, has been charged with murder. The killing has raised questions about supervision at the facility, as investigators say Inoa could be heard screaming for help. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the New Jersey Department of Corrections have launched an investigation.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Inoa was last seen alive around 7 p.m. on January 20. His body was not found until about 7:05 a.m. on January 22, when correction officers finally opened the cell door. An inmate in a neighboring cell reported hearing loud banging and kicking, followed by a toilet flushing and sink running through the night.
The witness also told investigators that Bryant admitted to assaulting Inoa and 'washed him up' to make him appear uninjured. Brooke Barnett, attorney for Inoa's family, stated that Inoa was 'begging for his life' for two days, and other inmates banged on cell doors urging officers to help, but nothing was done.
Inoa and Bryant had been housed in an administrative segregation unit for less than two weeks. Under a 2019 New Jersey law, inmates cannot be confined to cells for more than 20 hours a day, but Barnett says this rule was ignored. Inoa's family expressed devastation, noting he was due for release soon after serving two and a half years for a gun conviction.
A Department of Corrections spokesperson stated that staff are required to conduct formal counts and security checks throughout every shift. The department is cooperating with prosecutors, and all allegations of staff misconduct are investigated. The restrictive housing unit at Northern State Prison has faced previous criticism, including a 2024 report citing complaints about healthcare access, staffing shortages, and maintenance issues.
