San Diego Central Jail: incarcerated people alerted deputies that a 62-year-old man was in distress, and he died at a hospital about seven hours later
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (September 27, 2026): A 62-year-old man in the custody of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office died at a hospital on Sunday, September 27, several hours after he showed signs of medical distress inside San Diego Central Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of his death. The San Diego Union-Tribune also reported the death.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, at about 2:20 p.m. several incarcerated people told deputies that a man was experiencing medical distress. Deputies found him in the dayroom area, where he appeared disoriented but responsive, and escorted him to the jail’s medical clinic. While he was in the clinic, his condition worsened, and medical staff and deputies began lifesaving measures.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department paramedics took him to a local hospital, where lifesaving efforts continued. He was pronounced dead at about 9:15 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office said. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.
The man had been in custody since November 3, 2025, after an arrest by the San Diego Police Department, and was facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats and resisting arrest. He had not been convicted of those charges and is presumed innocent. The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is investigating, as it does with every in-custody death, and the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) has been notified. His death follows that of Daniel Patrick Murphy, 50, who died at the same jail on September 5.
Liability for Deaths at San Diego Central Jail
Families of people who die in a county jail generally look to the federal civil rights law, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and to state law such as California Government Code § 845.6, which can make a public entity liable when its employees know or have reason to know that a person in custody needs immediate medical care and fail to take reasonable action to summon it. Because this man was still awaiting trial, a claim would generally be analyzed under the Fourteenth Amendment. The questions usually include:
- Response to the first signs: Other incarcerated people raised the alarm at about 2:20 p.m. How quickly staff evaluated him, and what the clinic did before his condition worsened, is typically reviewed in detail.
- Time to hospital care: The records will show when paramedics were called, when he left the jail and what care he received during that window.
- Eleven months of medical history: He had been held for nearly eleven months. Intake screening, chronic conditions, medications and any sick-call requests during that time can be central.
- Medical contractors: Jail health care is often provided by private contractors, who are generally held to the same constitutional standards as public employees.
The Sheriff’s investigation and CLERB’s review are separate from any civil claim by the family. A finding by the Medical Examiner on the cause of death does not by itself answer whether reasonable care was provided.
Steps to Take After a Death in San Diego County Jail Custody
California requires every in-custody death to be reported to the state Department of Justice, and the 2022 California State Auditor report on San Diego County’s jails found that deficiencies in care likely contributed to deaths. Families generally need to act quickly to obtain records.
- Contact the Family Liaison: The Sheriff’s Office said a Family Liaison Officer has been assigned. Ask for the case number and how to request records.
- Request medical and autopsy records: Ask in writing for the jail medical file, the clinic notes from September 27 and the Medical Examiner’s autopsy and toxicology reports.
- Preserve video: Dayroom, hallway and clinic areas are often recorded. A written preservation request sent early can keep footage from being overwritten.
- Follow the CLERB review: Families can ask CLERB about the status of its review and submit information of their own.
A government claim against the county generally must be filed within six months under Government Code § 911.2, and wrongful death claims are generally subject to a two-year deadline under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating the San Diego Central Jail Death
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the man who died. Important questions remain: What did the clinic staff observe and do between 2:20 p.m. and the moment he went into distress? And what do his jail medical records show about his health during nearly eleven months in custody?
If a loved one died or was seriously injured while in custody anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on September 30, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on September 27, 2026.
