Abel Chacon
Abel Chacon, 25, died on August 25, 2022, while held at the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, Riverside County, California. The sheriff's department reported that a man was found unresponsive in his cell and treated. His parents' federal lawsuit says staff did not find him in time because required safety checks were not done and he did not get adequate emergency medical care. His father, Charles Chacon, asked why it took staff so long to reach his son, and he said Abel died of an overdose and that the death could have been prevented. His mother, Becky Shorty, said the family buried him before the cause of death was known, and that the department had given them little information.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). His father, Charles Chacon, says Abel died of an overdose that could have been prevented, and his parents' federal lawsuit says staff did not do required safety checks and gave him inadequate emergency medical care, while the department reported only that he was found unresponsive in his cell and treated.
Reported by: Riverside County Sheriff's Department (the agency that held him); Charles Chacon, his father (family or their lawyers); his parents' federal lawsuit, filed by attorneys Gastélum and Contreras (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His parents sued in federal court over his death at the Riverside County jail, alleging staff failed to conduct required safety checks and provide adequate emergency medical care, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
News reports (4)
- Riverside sheriff failed to report inmate deaths to state on time; names of dead made public
- Deaths in Riverside County jails: ACLU, families step up calls for outside investigation
- Federal lawsuits mount against Riverside County sheriff over surge in jail deaths
- 3 more wrongful-death lawsuits target Riverside County jails - The Press-Enterprise