Jessica Casillas, 42, Died in Custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department After Being Hospitalized
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 26, 2025) – A 42-year-old woman identified as Jessica Casillas has tragically died while staying at a Los Angeles County jail.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on October 22. Jessica Casillas was in need of medical treatment and was transported to the intensive care unit of a local hospital.
Nurses and other medical staff began life-saving measures. But these efforts were not sufficient. Jessica Casillas was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Many people die at Los Angeles County law enforcement custody each year. According to VERA, “The death toll in LA jails—the nation’s largest jail system—is driven by severe overcrowding, pervasive neglect and mistreatment, inadequate care inside jails, and a failure to offer robust alternatives to incarceration.” Jails are supposed to take several actions to protect inmates.
- Medical Screening: All inmates should undergo a thorough medical evaluation when they are first admitted.
- Monitoring: All inmates should be properly monitored throughout the duration of their stay. Some inmates will need to be more closely monitored in a medical setting.
- Medications: Jails should ensure that inmates have access to all of the medications that they need.
Every inmate in California has a legal right to receive reasonably adequate healthcare for all of their conditions. Failing to give inmates proper care is considered a form of cruel and unusual punishment and therefore unconstitutional. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate who dies in custody, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim.
Steps to Take After Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
It can be difficult to know where to begin after losing someone that you love in custody. To make matters worse, jails are rarely transparent about the circumstances surrounding any in-custody death. Certain steps should be taken after any inmate dies in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department custody.
- Medical Records: All of the medical records related to the death of the inmate should be gathered.
- Autopsy Report: The autopsy report related to the death should be closely examined.
- Independent Review: The circumstances surrounding the death should be carefully reviewed by an experienced legal team.
Jail deaths are often highly preventable. They tend to be the result of systemic failures within any particular jail, as opposed to the wrongful actions of a single person. For example, jails may lack properly trained and experienced medical staff. The family of any inmate who died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice and accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jessica Casillas. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate death? Our team of civil rights investigators is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that law enforcement is held accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any death, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
