German Carrillo
German Carrillo, 24, was found dead in his cell at the Santa Cruz County Main Jail in October 2019, where he was being held before trial. Autopsy reports say he was strangled, and his body was found about 36 hours after his time of death. His family's civil rights lawsuit says he should not have been housed in a gang-affiliated wing and that the cell's emergency buttons were inoperable and its window obstructed. In March 2021 a federal judge denied the county's motion to pause the case, which can now proceed toward trial.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). Autopsy reports say he was strangled, and his family's civil rights lawsuit says staff housed him in a gang-affiliated wing, left the cell's emergency buttons inoperable and its window obstructed.
Reported by: autopsy reports.
Lawsuit: His family filed a civil rights lawsuit alleging he was wrongly housed in a gang-affiliated wing and that emergency buttons were inoperable, and in March 2021 a federal judge denied the county's motion to pause the case, which can proceed toward trial.