As an illegal prison strike continues, state officials Monday would not answer questions about the timeline of a death at Auburn Correctional Facility over the weekend as multiple advocates said the incarcerated man asked for medical help before his death.

Jonathon Grant, 61, was found unresponsive in his cell in Cayuga County on Saturday morning, according to the state Department of Corrections & Community Supervision. A paramedic pronounced him dead at 8:32 a.m. after security and medical staff and a member of the National Guard administered the overdose reversal drug Narcan and performed CPR. Grant’s death is under investigation by State Police and DOCCS' Office of Special Investigations while awaiting the Cayuga County Medical Examiner's determination of cause of death. The state Commission of Correction reviews all deaths in state prisons.

Grant was serving a 34-to-40-year sentence on first-degree rape and burglary charges committed in Kings County. He entered state prison Aug. 11, 2011.

More than 4,500 members of the National Guard continue to assist at least 38 prisons across the state as correction officers participate in an illegal strike — arguing insufficient staffing levels and HALT Act regulations that limit the use of solitary confinement pose a safety threat for employees.

Jerome Wright, co-director, HALTsolitary Campaign & NYS Jails Justice Network, said he was told Grant yelled from his cell Friday night asking to see medical staff, but medical staff and National Guard are overburdened as the strike continues. Multiple advocates who spoke with people inside the facility also said Grant asked for medical help at 10 p.m. Friday, but was ignored.

"[Grant] said 'I need to see medical,' and they said 'Yeah,' and then nobody sends anybody," Wright recounted. "That was typical before the strike, too. You had to yell to get any medical attention."

A DOCCS spokesperson would not answer if Grant asked for or received medical treatment before his death, pointing to the ongoing investigation.

“Investigators from the State Police and OSI responded to Auburn Correctional Facility on Feb. 22 to investigate this death,” according to the department. “As part of the comprehensive review of any incarcerated individual’s death inside a correctional facility, medical care and the emergency response by staff are carefully examined. The investigation is ongoing and pending the medical examiner’s determination of the cause of death.”

All facilities have some medical staff inside, according to DOCCS.

Wright was incarcerated for over 30 years on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. He continues to speak with people behind bars as the strike persists.

Multiple advocates for the humane treatment and rights of incarcerated people have told Spectrum News 1 the ongoing strike and lack of staff has made it more difficult to get medication or medical treatment — especially for mental health or substance abuse.

"The National Guard are doing the best they can...but all of this is going to do is lead to more death and destruction of individuals over time," Wright said. “It is bad enough that good medical care is not something you get in jails and prisons to begin with. No medical care when you are in distress is akin to murder. That is medical neglect.”

Groups that advocate for humane treatment and rights for incarcerated people have noted the officers' strike began just before 10 correction officers were charged last week in connection to the fatal beating of Robert Brooks, an incarcerated man who died at Marcy Correctional Facility in December.

Visitation has been suspended in all facilities because of the strike.