Antonio Billante
Antonio Billante was a 68-year-old retired painter from Salinas who had schizophrenia, according to his sister, Rosa Boschetti Billante. He developed an infection from an untreated wound while held at the Monterey County Jail, and he was found unresponsive in his cell and taken to Salinas Valley Health in septic shock, where he died on July 4, 2023. Neutral monitors reported at least five problems with how the jail handled his death. His family sued the County and Wellpath, the jail's health care contractor, and the County agreed to pay $2 million to settle the case.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). Neutral monitors report that an infection from an untreated wound was not properly treated before he died, and his family's lawsuit against the County and Wellpath, later settled for $2 million, also alleges inadequate medical care.
Reported by: neutral monitor reports; his family's lawsuit against the County and Wellpath (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Monterey County and Wellpath, the jail's health care contractor, and the county agreed to pay $2 million to settle the case.