Dat Thanh Luong
Dat Thanh Luong, 56, had schizophrenia, and a court had ordered him transferred to a state hospital for treatment, but according to his family's wrongful death lawsuit, the transfer did not happen for 81 days. He died on October 11, 2016, in his cell in the behavioral health housing unit at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, where deputies found him on the floor and pronounced him dead. Sheriff's officials said his cellmate allegedly killed him, believing he was strangled or beaten without a weapon. His family's suit says no one was supervising his mental and physical health before his death, and his wife, Ai Quiong Zhong, pursued the case against the sheriff.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). His family's wrongful death lawsuit says staff did not supervise his mental and physical health after a state hospital transfer was delayed 81 days, and sheriff's officials say his cellmate killed him, believing he was strangled or beaten.
Reported by: Alameda County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his family's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit over his death at Santa Rita Jail.