Cynthia Acosta
Cynthia Acosta, 34, was the youngest of five, and her brother says she brought life to everybody. In January 2018 she was found hanging in her cell at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny, with the cause described as torn bedsheets tied to an overturned bunk. She had been receiving mental health treatment in the weeks before, and her family says her prescribed medication was not with her when she was taken into the jail. Her brother blames poor monitoring in the jail's medical unit, and the jail director acknowledged that nurses lacked enough training and resources to handle mental health needs.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Her family says her prescribed medication was not with her when she was taken into the jail, and her brother blames poor monitoring in the medical unit, while the jail director acknowledged nurses lacked enough training and resources for mental health needs.
Reported by: Cynthia Acosta's family (family or their lawyers); Cynthia Acosta's brother (family or their lawyers); Hudson County Correctional Facility director (the agency that held her).