Clark County jail inmate dies after suffering injuries in beating

A Clark County Detention Center inmate who was badly beaten Sunday has died, and police said they plan to pursue a murder charge against another inmate.

Las Vegas police officer Larry Hadfield said the injured inmate was found unresponsive in his cell Sunday. The man was taken to University Medical Center in critical condition. He died at the hospital Tuesday night.

“The victim was taken off of life support yesterday evening,” Hadfield said Wednesday.

The Clark County coroner’s office identified the victim as 59-year-old Blancy Yonko, but the cause and manner of his death were pending.

Yonko was awaiting trial on one count of assault with a deadly weapon. Police said he chased a man with a knife in February.

Hadfield said a cellmate, Steven Revell, 39, initially was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in the jailhouse attack. After the inmate’s death, Hadfield said police would pursue a murder charge in the case.

Revell, who is homeless, was housed at the jail on another attempted murder charge stemming from the stabbing of a Nebraska man at the Fremont Street Experience on Dec. 5. Police said that attack was “completely unprovoked.” The victim in that case survived.

Contact Glenn Puit by email at gpuit@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GlennatRJ on Twitter.