Evaristo Ramirez
Evaristo Ramirez, a day laborer and Mexican national, died in 2009 while held at the Sacramento County jail. According to the Sacramento County District Attorney's office, he was placed in a cell with another man, who was later convicted of strangling him. Officers reportedly arrived about 20 minutes after another person in the jail activated an emergency alert and found him unresponsive. His family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the county alleging that jail employees improperly placed the cellmate with him; a judge dismissed the cell-placement claim, and a jury cleared the remaining deputy.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The Sacramento County District Attorney's office says Ramirez was strangled by his cellmate, who was later convicted; his family's wrongful-death lawsuit alleges jail employees improperly placed the cellmate with him and that officers arrived about 20 minutes after an emergency alert, but a judge dismissed the cell-placement claim and a jury cleared the remaining deputy.
Reported by: Sacramento County District Attorney's office; his family's wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); a judge; a jury.
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Sacramento County, alleging jail employees improperly placed his cellmate with him; a judge dismissed the cell-placement claim and a jury cleared the remaining deputy, with no payment reported.