Carlos Umana
Carlos Umana, 20, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and his mother, Tammy Martinez, said he began preparing all his own food out of fear of being poisoned. He was held at the Salt Lake County Jail from October 2010 until he died there on February 27, 2011, when the medical examiner recorded that he weighed about 77 pounds, down from about 180 when he entered. The medical examiner ruled his death natural, due to starvation and dehydration, with his mental illness a likely contributing factor, and postmortem tests found none of his prescribed psychiatric medications in his system. His mother said jail staff would not accept his medication and that she warned them he was not well, while Sheriff Jim Winder said staff knew of his mental health issues and were evaluating how to address his not eating and called the death unexpected. Questions remain about whether those assessments could have been expedited.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. The medical examiner ruled the manner natural, from starvation and dehydration, while his mother says jail staff would not accept his medication and ignored her warnings that he was not well.
Reported by: Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder (the agency that held him); medical examiner or coroner; his mother.