Convicted pedophile who molested 11-year-old girl drowned in prison toilet by killer cellmate
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: Police officers have revealed that a convicted pedophile who molested an 11-year-old girl was brutally drowned in the toilet of his cell by his cellmate. 56-year-old David Oseas Ramirez was found dead at Duval County Jail in Jacksonville, Florida, on the morning of July 30.
Ramirez reportedly exchanged insults with his cellmate Paul Dixon, a convicted murderer, before the confrontation escalated and became physical. USA Today reported that the 43-year-old Dixon was able to get the upper hand, and is said to have held Ramirez’s head down in the toilet bowl until he died.
Jail officials have not officially identified Ramirez as the murder victim, but jail records reportedly show that he was “released” from prison, with the reason given listed as “deceased.” Ramirez was serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2013 when he was found guilty of lewd or lascivious molestation of an 11-year-old girl. According to reports at the time, it took the jury just 15 minutes to convict him.
"When men go to jail accused, convicted of hurting a child, there is no peace in jail," News4Jax crime and safety analyst Ken Jefferson told Newsweek. "They have to constantly watch over their back. They have to hope they can befriend someone to look out for them. To protect them."
According to Metro, Dixon was transferred to Duval County jail from another facility while awaiting court proceedings for a new sentencing hearing as required by recently passed state laws, according to local news reports.
He is currently serving a life sentence after he was convicted of murdering someone in 1993 when he was 17-years-old. Ramirez and Dixon were both housed on the prison’s upper floor, which is reserved for the county’s most violent criminals.
Local media reports that a third prisoner who witnessed the drowning is refusing to cooperate with authorities. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said that Dixon, who is facing a charge of murder, has also refused to speak with police and is demanding a lawyer, the Sun reports. The Sheriff's Office added that examples of cellmates killing each other are rare at the prison.
"We were talking about the last time there was ever an incident like this in Jacksonville, and none of us can recall anything in recent memory. I mean, I've been here almost 23 years. I can't recall one," JSO Assistant Chief Brian Kee told Action News Jax.
Police said all surveillance footage from inside the prison has been handed over to investigators as evidence. "Every aspect of this incident will be evaluated and the investigation is ongoing," the department added in a statement.