ELOY, AZ — The Eloy Police Department has identified the victim in a homicide at the Saguaro Correctional Center as 38-year-old Christopher Pendleton, an inmate housed at the private facility on behalf of the Idaho Department of Corrections.

The homicide occurred on the morning of August 20, 2025, at the prison located on East Arica Road in Eloy. Police said officers received a call at approximately 9:27 a.m. reporting the incident. Emergency medical personnel responded, but Pendleton was pronounced dead at the scene.

Notification of Pendleton’s next of kin has been completed. The Eloy Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit is leading the case in cooperation with the Saguaro Correctional Center and the Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Idaho Connection

The Saguaro Correctional Center, operated by CoreCivic, contracts with both Hawaii and Idaho to house inmates. Idaho sends prisoners there as part of efforts to manage in-state overcrowding. Pendleton was among those Idaho inmates being held at the Arizona facility.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, and additional information will be released when available.