Cellmate charged with murder of Santa Rita Jail inmate

(KRON) — Elias Angel Rivera, a 37-year-old inmate who was found gravely injured in his cell at Santa Rita Jail on March 17 at 11: 59 p.m., and later died at a local hospital, was murdered by his cellmate, investigators say.

Rivera’s death was initially investigated as a homicide. But no suspects were previously named in the case. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that Rivera’s cellmate, 22-year-old Paula Faaui of Oakland, is being charged with his murder.



Driver, 15, leads Sonoma County deputies on 100 mph chase on Highway 101Rivera was arrested by the California Highway Patrol’s Oakland Division for murder in May of 2022. Faaui was arrested on murder charges by the Oakland Police Department in August of 2023.“The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office takes incidents of this nature very seriously, and we are committed to ensuring it is conducted with transparency and integrity,” the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said.

Whole Foods in Cupertino closes deli, bakery after roaches, rodent droppings foundRivera’s death is being investigated by the Santa Rita Jail Special Investigations Unit and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office..