Gilbert Rodriguez
Gilbert Rodriguez, 66, died at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa, San Diego County, California, on December 26, 2020, with COVID-19 listed as the cause by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, as reported by inewsource. His son Ryan Rodriguez said he had spoken with his father about a week before his death, and the family says his dying wish was for his sons to know about the lack of medical help inside the prison. A cellmate wrote to the family that Gilbert was coughing heavily, was not given medicine for his throat, and had symptoms resembling a heart attack or stroke before he died. The prison would not give the family details about his care, and a later medical examiner email said staff checked his vitals daily.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The medical examiner's records list COVID-19 as the cause, while his cellmate wrote to the family that staff did not give him medicine for his throat and that he showed heart-attack-like symptoms before he died.
Reported by: San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner).