Eugene Smith (Full Name: Eugene Rodman Smith) Died After Being Found Unresponsive in Holding Cell at San Diego Jail
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (October 11, 2025) – A male inmate identified as Eugene Smith has tragically died in custody at the San Diego County jail.
San Diego County officials are saying that the incident took place around 11:55 PM on October 1. Deputies found Eugene Smith unresponsive in his holding cell.
Deputies began lifesaving measures, which were later taken over by paramedics. He was transported to a local hospital to receive emergency care.
Sadly, Eugene Smith was later pronounced dead at the hospital. His death came just two days after he was arrested on September 29.
A full investigation into the death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for San Diego County Inmate Deaths
Every jail in California has a legal obligation to provide for the safety and well-being of all inmates that they house. In particular, jails must provide inmates with adequate medical care for all of their needs. When a jail fails to provide inmates with adequate care for serious medical conditions, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Many different actions of jail officials could be considered negligent in this regard.
- Medication Errors: Jail officials may have given an inmate the incorrect dose of the medication. It is also possible that they failed to give an inmate the medication that they needed.
- Monitoring: Jail officials may have failed to properly monitor an inmate at serious risk of harm.
- Medical Detoxification: It is relatively common for people to enter jail with a substance-use disorder. Jails may fail to provide an inmate with medical detoxification.
- Emergency Response: Jail officials may delay getting an inmate the medical care that they need in the event of an emergency. Even a very small delay can mean the difference between an inmate living or dying.
San Diego County has faced a number of lawsuits after inmates have died in their care. Consider, for example, Estate of Elisa Serna v. County of San Diego. A 24-year-old woman died in custody at the Las Colinas Detention Facility. She was left largely unattended, despite the fact that she showed signs of severe withdrawal. She informed jail staff that she previously used heroin. Sadly, she died after collapsing at the jail. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that her death was the result of deliberate indifference on the part of jail staff.
Steps to Take After a San Diego County Inmate Death
Many people have died while in custody at jails across San Diego County. According to one San Diego County Grand Jury Final Report, “Between 2021 and 2023 there were 50 in-custody deaths in San Diego County jails according to the California Department of Justice. There were nine in-custody deaths in 2024. There have been three in-custody deaths in 2025 as of April 24, 2025, yielding a total of 247 in-custody deaths since 2006.” It is important that certain actions are taken after any inmate death in San Diego County.
- Medical Review: All medical records related to the death should be collected and reviewed. They can reveal deficiencies in care.
- Internal Policies: All copies of internal jail policies should be carefully examined. Many deaths involve jail staff failing to follow their own policies.
- Eyewitness: All eyewitnesses that may have information about what happened should be interviewed.
- Constitutional Review: The actions of jail officials should be scrutinized by a team with extensive experience in civil rights violations.
It is common for jails to label certain inmate deaths as “natural.” Jails often do this to avoid scrutiny. But this label is often highly misleading. It’s not important to determine whether or not any inmate death was natural. It’s important to understand whether or not any inmate received adequate care to prevent an otherwise natural death. In far too many instances, this is not the case. The family of any inmate who died in custody may be able to seek some measure of accountability and transparency through a civil claim.
Investigating San Diego County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Eugene Smith. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. The number of inmate deaths across San Diego County in recent years remains deeply concerning. Several questions remain about this case in particular. Did this man receive proper medical attention? Did jail staff violate their own internal policies?
Do you need more information about a San Diego County inmate death? Our team of civil rights investigators is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping inmates understand their rights and holding jails fully accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent review of any particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
