Angela Zuniga
Angela Zuniga, 33, was the mother of seven children, and her family says she was a loving person who gave money to others for food, diapers and bus fare. Her sister said she had recently vowed to turn her life around. Her mother says that, 18 days after giving birth by C-section, Angela complained of severe pain and collapsed around 6 p.m. at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, and that her requests for more medical care were ignored. The sheriff's department said she had a medical emergency on February 27 and was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, where she died the next morning, with the cause pending autopsy. A family lawsuit says she reported worsening symptoms, was turned away from the infirmary, and waited more than two hours for an ambulance, and that she died of multiple pulmonary embolisms; sheriff's officials dispute the allegations, and a sheriff's health services administrator said patients are seen in a timely manner and such clots can be fatal despite monitoring.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). Her family's lawsuit, brought by attorney Vicki Sarmiento, says staff turned her away from the infirmary and an ambulance took over two hours, while sheriff's officials dispute the allegations and say she died of multiple pulmonary embolisms that can be fatal despite monitoring.
Reported by: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (the agency that held her); family's lawsuit (attorney Vicki Sarmiento) (family or their lawyers); Sandra Lugo (family) (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family has sued over her death, and sheriff's officials dispute the allegations; no settlement or award amount has been reported.