James Acuna
James Acuna, 58, was found dead in his cell at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa, California, in April 2017. His niece described him as a strong, very giving hard worker who took good care of himself, and people held there last saw him playing soccer on April 21. The medical examiner could not determine a cause of death because decomposition was too advanced, and the autopsy noted cirrhosis of the liver while saying homicidal violence could not be completely excluded. Officials said there were no overt signs of foul play, and a toxicology report was pending. Whether staff conducted head counts in the days before he was found has not been said by officials.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause undetermined, saying natural causes are possible but homicidal violence cannot be completely excluded, and state oversight called the prison's response inadequate; the body was not found until days after he likely died, and staff did not notice the odor at first.
Reported by: San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (the agency that held him); state oversight.
Sources (5)
- Sheriff Parkinson finds no wrongdoing in death of inmate
- Donovan State Prison Inmate Dead for Days Before Being Discovered
- Odor Thought To Be Sewage Leads CA Prison Staff To Inmate's Body
- Hidden Body, Falsified Records: Inmate's Death Plagues CA Prison
- Mystery Clouds CA Inmate's Death; Cellmate's Past Uncovered