Mariel Mays, 26, of Adelanto, Died After Being Found Unresponsive at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA (April 22, 2026) – A 26-year-old man from Adelanto identified as Mariel Mays has tragically died in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
San Bernardino County officials are saying that the incident began around 4:55 AM on April 19, 2026. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies were alerted that an inmate was in medical distress.
They encountered Mariel Mays, who was unresponsive in his cell. They began rendering medical aid, and paramedics were called to the scene.
Personnel from American Medical Response and Rancho Cucamonga Fire continued efforts to resuscitate him. Despite life-saving measures, Mariel Mays was pronounced dead at the scene.
A full investigation into the death remains ongoing at this time. This death comes less than two weeks after Odiakosa Obazeh also died at the same jail.
Liability for Inmate Deaths at the West Valley Detention Center
When the state assumes control over a person’s autonomy through incarceration, certain constitutional standards must apply. Among other things, inmates must be protected from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. They must also be provided with all of the medical treatment that they require. There are many ways that a jail may have failed to properly care for an inmate in their custody.
- Health Screenings: A jail may fail to give inmates a proper health screening before they are admitted.
- Medications: A jail may fail to give an inmate the medications that they require for chronic health conditions.
- Overdose: A jail may fail to provide an inmate with quick medical treatments as they are going through a drug overdose.
- Withdrawal: A jail may fail to provide an inmate with adequate care if they are going through withdrawal from some substance.
In order for a jail to be liable for any inmate death, jail officials must’ve acted with deliberate indifference to a serious medical need. Deliberate indifference can manifest in many different forms. Among other things, a jail may have known that an inmate required careful monitoring and still failed to closely monitor them.
Steps to Take After Inmate Deaths at the West Valley Detention Center
Far too many inmates die every year in California. Many of these people were never even formally convicted of the crime for which they were being held. According to Open Justice, “In 2019, the percentage of county jail deaths grew to 20.6 percent and the percentage of CDCR deaths decreased to 52.8 percent.” Certain action should be taken after any inmate death in California.
- All of the medical records associated with the incident should be preserved.
- Body camera footage from all responding officers should be carefully examined.
- Jail records related to the person’s stay should be collected.
- The family of the person who died should seek an independent review by a team experienced in civil rights claims.
Jails are often quick to claim that some inmate death in their care was natural. But this designation is often highly misleading. Many of these supposedly natural deaths involved inmates that are incredibly young. Moreover, a large portion of supposedly ‘natural’ deaths also involve some amount of medical neglect. The family of any person who died in jail custody may be able to see some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating Inmate Deaths at the West Valley Detention Center
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mariel Mays. Any person who may have worn information about what happens should reach out to investigators. The sheer number of deaths at this facility in recent years remains deeply concerning. Many questions have yet to be answered.
Do you need more information about an inmate death at the West Valley Detention Center? Our team of civil rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims get the information and support that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique circumstances of any incident, we are here to serve your needs. You’re always welcome to contact us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
