Daniel Pentkowski
Daniel Pentkowski, 53, was visiting San Antonio for a family reunion held in honor of his late mother when he died at the Bexar County Jail on January 25, 2023. The Sheriff's Office described a medical episode and said he had apparently self-inflicted injuries, and the medical examiner had not yet determined a cause at the time. His family's federal lawsuit, filed by attorney Ben Crump, says a San Antonio police officer used excessive force against him and that jail staff denied him medical care. The Texas Attorney General's custodial death report and an independent autopsy both classified his death as a homicide, and his siblings say they were not told of his death until after they hired an attorney.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office describes a medical episode and self-inflicted injuries, while the Texas Attorney General's custodial death report and an independent autopsy rule it a homicide from restraint and asphyxia, and the family's federal lawsuit says a San Antonio police officer used excessive force and jail staff denied him medical care.
Reported by: Bexar County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Texas Attorney General's custodial death report (outside investigators); Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences independent autopsy (medical examiner or coroner); his family's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal lawsuit, backed by attorney Ben Crump, alleging that a San Antonio police officer used excessive force during an encounter with him and that jail staff denied him medical care.