(L.A.) Wayne Montanio, 70, Died at the Lancaster Prison

Case Number: 2025-20316

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 70-year-old Latino male that occurred at CSP-LAC in Lancaster.

The coroner’s office identified the man as Wayne Montanio. Born in Riverside County. Mother’s maiden name is Garcia.

Manner of Death: Natural

Cause of Death A: Sudden Cardiac Death

Cause of Death B: Advanced Atherosclerotic and Ischemic Heart Disease

Other Significant Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Morbid Obesity, Implanted Cardiac Pacemaker

RIP WAYNE MONTANIO (April 8, 1955 – December 30, 2025)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Tuesday at California State Prison, Los Angeles County (CSP-LAC).

In 1997, the decedent shot his 28-year-old brother Dondi Ray in the back of the head and then lit him on fire.

The motive had to do with Dondi reporting Wayne to the police for opening credit cards in Dondi’s name. Wayne’s financial difficulties were due to his wife’s cocaine addiction — their marital fights, as well as getting fired from his contruction job, had driven him to the brink of suicide months before the murder.