Bryan Charles Martinez
Bryan Charles Martinez, 29, was held at the San Miguel County Detention Center in Las Vegas, New Mexico, when he was found hanging from the top bunk of his cell on November 15, 2016. The Las Vegas Police Department's incident report describes the death as a suicide. His family says he had been assaulted by another person held at the jail days earlier and then placed in segregation, and that staff failed to assess his known suicide risk. The family's wrongful death suit alleged deliberate indifference; it was later won. His sister Ashley and a friend who worked with the family remember him through the hip hop songs they shared.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The Las Vegas Police Department incident report says he hanged himself from the top bunk of his jail cell, but his family's wrongful death suit alleges staff failed to assess his known suicide risk after an assault and placement in segregation.
Reported by: Las Vegas Police Department Incident Report (the agency that held him); his family's wrongful death suit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging deliberate indifference to his known suicide risk and won the case.