Stacy Umberger, 52, Died Following Medical Emergency While in Custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (January 18, 2026) – An inmate identified as Stacy Umberger has died in a Southern California hospital while in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident began sometime around December 5. Stacy Umberger was transferred to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
Despite life-saving measures at the hospital, the inmate’s condition did not improve. Sadly, Stacy Umberger was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
When the state assumes control over a person’s autonomy, certain constitutional standards must apply. In particular, all inmates must be provided with a reasonably safe environment that is free from hazards. Inmates should also receive all of the medical care that they need throughout the duration of their stay. When a person is in custody, they’re not able to seek care on their own. Jails should take certain measures to prevent inmate deaths.
- Jail should provide all inmates with the medications that they need.
- Jails should ensure that all inmates receive a thorough medical evaluation as they are being processed.
- Jails should typically separate violent inmates from non-violent offenders.
- Jails should perform periodic wellness checks on all of the inmates in their care.
Los Angeles County has a very poor track record when it comes to properly caring for inmates. 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.” When a jail or a healthcare agency fails to properly care for the inmates in their custody, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim.
Common Causes of Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Many inmates have died in custody at jails across the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “In 2019, a total of 3,853 prisoners died in state prisons or private prison facilities under a state contract, a decrease of 284 deaths from 2018.” There are many common causes of inmate death.
- Many inmate deaths in Los Angeles County have been due to inadequate medical care.
- Many inmate deaths have involved excessive force on the part of correctional officers.
- Many inmate deaths involved drug overdoses from contraband smuggled into the jail.
- Many inmate deaths involved inmates not receiving the medication that they needed.
Jails are often quick to claim any inmate death as “natural.” This designation can often be highly misleading. Many deaths labeled as natural actually involve some amount of medical neglect. This is why it is so important these incidents are properly investigated by an outside party. The family of any person who died in a Los Angeles jail may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Stacy Umberger. 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 so that other tragedies can be prevented. Many questions remain unanswered at this time.
Do you need more information about an inmate death in Los Angeles County? Our team of civil rights advocates is here to support you. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that those rights are protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
