Jeffrey Ray Vigil
Jeffrey Vigil, 24, was a roofer from Ogden, and his obituary describes him as someone who loved spending time with his wife and children. On March 14, 2016, he was attacked by another prisoner in a unit at the Utah State Prison in Draper, and he died the next day at a hospital. The state medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, citing stabbing and blunt force trauma. His widow's civil suit says staff ignored his warnings about a unit dominated by a rival gang, were slow to respond, and delayed medical help; the state denied those allegations, and the case was settled in 2018 with terms undisclosed. The man who attacked him pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in 2020.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The state medical examiner and prosecutors say another inmate stabbed and beat him to death; his widow's civil suit alleged prison staff ignored warnings about the unit they moved him to, were slow to respond, and delayed medical help, and the state denied the allegations.
Reported by: state medical examiner; Unified Police detectives (outside investigators); Salt Lake County prosecutors; his widow's civil suit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His widow sued Utah state officials over his death, alleging prison staff ignored warnings and delayed help, and the case settled in 2018 with terms undisclosed while the state denied the allegations.