We only have two weeks to raise funds for an attorney and independent autopsy to investigate the suspicious in-custody death of long-term incarcerated activist and organizer Robert “Gordo” Gamez, Jr.

Gordo died on July 18th, 2026, while in the custody of the Lewis Prison Complex in Buckeye, AZ. The day before his death, Gordo told his mother, environmental justice organizer Linda Robles, “Don’t be surprised, Mom, if something happens to me.” Last year, Gordo suffered a severe head injury and nine broken ribs due to ADOC guards' excessive use of force. While incarcerated, Gordo was a prolific activist and organizer fighting alongside Linda against solitary confinement and toxic prison conditions with ADOC. At the time of his death, he was working on a Ninth Circuit appeal fighting his own prolonged solitary confinement.

Gordo was allegedly found unresponsive by guards, and despite emergency protocols being activated, he was not transported to an Emergency Room at any point before his death. Warden Daniel Walker was unable to provide details to Gordo’s mother, Linda Robles, and the internal investigation into his death was marked “resolved” on July 22nd. The initial autopsy performed by the Maricopa County Coroner’s Office noted that the condition of his body upon receipt from ADOC was “poor”. Still, they have not identified a cause of death. The funeral home holding Gordo’s body has given Linda a timeline of 2-3 more weeks they can hold his body for an independent autopsy.

While no amount of fundraising or organizing will bring Gordo back, we hope that his autopsy can at least shed light on what happened and why. Gordo spent his life fighting for change in the Arizona prison system. We will make sure his death continues to catalyze change inside the Arizona prison system.

Funds raised here will go to Gordo's niece Destiny and will be used for towards attorney fees to help the family navigate the legal side of things, including finding a forensic pathologist who will conduct the autopsy, end-of-life proceedings for Gordo, and more. Funds will also cover the cost of the autopsy itself. Any leftover funds will be used to help Linda move forward with her life and support a broader struggle for justice for Gordo and all those who have died in ADOC’s custody.