Edwin Villalta
Edwin Villalta was a 29-year-old former Marine, a computer avionics technician discharged with honors in 2014, who worked for an airline, loved to travel, and enjoyed classical music and opera. His sister Jenny and mother Mabel remember him as friendly, outgoing and adventurous. He died on November 28, 2017, while held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, after being housed alone in an administrative isolation unit for 17 days. The Alameda County Sheriff's office said its investigation indicated he took his own life, and the coroner was to determine the official cause and manner of death. His family says he suffered from PTSD from his military service and was punished for it rather than treated, and their lawsuit against Alameda County over the isolation and his mental health care is pending.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says an investigation indicated he took his own life, while his family's lawsuit says he was held alone in isolation for 17 days despite PTSD from military service and was punished rather than treated.
Reported by: Alameda County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Alameda County over his isolation and mental health care, and the lawsuit was pending in the reporting.