Inmate Death Under Investigation

Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

FORSYTH, Ga. – Special Agents with the Georgia Department of Corrections’ (GDC) Office of Professional Standards are investigating the death of an inmate at Telfair State Prison in Helena, Georgia as a suspected homicide. 

Agents have reason to believe inmate Louis Garcia-Palacio (GDC # 1039286) died as a result of injuries sustained during an altercation with another inmate on July 28, at the facility.  Garcia-Palacio was pronounced deceased by the county coroner at approximately 1:30 p.m., July 28.  The GDC is conducting an investigation into the death as standard procedure. 

Garcia-Palacio was sentenced in 2018 for a methamphetamine conviction out of Gwinnett County.

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising approximately 50,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit http://www.gdc.ga.gov.