Craig Prescott
Craig Prescott, 38, a former Stanislaus County deputy from Modesto, was held at the Stanislaus County Jail in April 2009. Sources say jailers used Tasers and pepper spray while moving him to a safety cell, and he was taken to a Modesto hospital, where he died on April 13, 2009. The county coroner's office attributed the death to hypertensive heart disease, while the family's independent autopsy said deputies suffocated him. His wife, Rachel Prescott, and his mother, Marilyn Prescott, brought a wrongful death suit, which has reached a tentative settlement that requires county approval; his mother said her son was mentally ill and not aggressive, and the family had hoped he would get mental health treatment.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The Stanislaus County coroner attributed the death to hypertensive heart disease, while the family's independent autopsy concluded deputies suffocated him after a Taser and pepper spray altercation, and the family's wrongful death suit has reached a tentative settlement pending county approval.
Reported by: Stanislaus County coroner's office (medical examiner or coroner); family's independent autopsy (medical examiner or coroner); family's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death suit that has reached a tentative settlement still requiring Stanislaus County approval.