Damaris Rodriguez
Damaris Rodriguez was a mother of five who had bipolar disorder, according to her family. Her husband, Reynaldo Gil, called 911 in December 2017 asking for medical help during a mental health crisis, and she was held at the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) jail in Des Moines, Washington. The family's lawsuit says she was not taken for medical care during about four days in custody, was not fed, and died in her cell on January 4, 2018, of ketoacidosis, a treatable metabolic condition. The King County Medical Examiner ruled the death sudden and natural, and NaphCare, the jail's health care provider, disputes the family's account.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The King County Medical Examiner ruled the death sudden and natural, but the family's lawsuit says jail staff left her alone for four days without medical care or food, causing ketoacidosis.
Reported by: King County Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Family's lawsuit (attorney Nate Bingham) (family or their lawyers); South Correctional Entity (SCORE) jail (the agency that held her).
Lawsuit: Her family sued over her death at the SCORE jail, alleging medical neglect, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
Sources (6)
- Mother of 5 dies after 4 days of solitary confinement at SCORE (GRAPHIC WARNING)
- Mother with mental health symptoms died in jail from 'torturous' neglect, lawsuit claims
- Disturbing video shows mother of five crawling in jail cell days before she died: "A window into hell"
- Disturbing footage shows mother crawling naked in cell hours before she dies during psychotic break
- Mentally ill woman dies in custody, lawsuit alleges deprivation of medical care
- Video reveals mother of 5 starving to death in jail cell