Florida Inmate Jailed For Murdering 14-Year-Old Classmate Dies Inside Prison Cell

A wannabe serial killer who was jailed for brutally murdering his 14-year-old classmate collapsed and died inside his cell on Thursday, April 29.

Michael Hernandez was an inmate at Columbia Correctional Institute outside Jacksonville in Florida. According to the Department of Corrections, the 31-year-old collapsed and died Thursday, possibly from a drug overdose.

The exact cause of death is unclear as results are being waited, however, police do not suspect foul play.

Hernandez was fourteen when he murdered his classmate, Jaime Gough, inside their Miami middle school campus.

According to police, Hernandez who was obsessed with serial killers lured Jamie into a bathroom stall after promising to show him something. Once there, Hernandez stabbed Jamie 40 times before cutting his throat.

He then went back to his classroom with a bloody knife in his backpack. Police were alerted after a teacher noticed traces of blood on the student.

Hernandez was arrested and charged with murder. He tried using an insanity defense during his trial, but the jury found him guilty and sentenced him to serve life behind bars.

"He was an evil evil person who showed no remorse," Gail Levines, retired Miami-Dade prosecutor, who oversaw Hernandez’s sentencing hearing said. "Finally, justice was completed."

On Thursday, Hernandez was seen on surveillance video, collapsing inside his cell. Sources familiar with the incident said Hernandez may have died from a drug overdose, the New York Times reported.

In 2004, on the day of the crime, Hernandez had also attempted to murder another student. Andre Martin, who today is a Miami-Dade police detective. expressed his condolences to both families.

"My continued condolences for Jaime Gough’s parents, and the entire Gough family," Martin told Miami Herald. "And the Hernandez family — they were not the ones who committed a crime and they did lose a family member."

Jamie’s dad, Jorge Gough, said he was "shocked" to hear about Hernandez’s death.

"I was not expecting this at all," Gough told the outlet. He said he misses his son and wishes he was alive.

"We miss him, and the big question is: What would he be today?" Jorge said.

The Florida police along with the Department of Corrections would be investigating Hernandez’s death. This is an ongoing investigation and no further details were available at this time.

"Due to the open and active investigation, we are unable to provide any additional information," a statement said.