Jessie Barrientos
Jessie Andrew Barrientos died on October 1, 2022, in the San Benito County jail, where officers found him hanging in his cell, according to San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor and court documents. His mother, Rosario Herrera, sued the county in federal court in 2024, alleging that understaffing at the jail made his death preventable. The county has said the jail was properly staffed and that he received medical and mental health care, and it maintains the death was not preventable. A later report said the case was reportedly settled for $450,000, though the county had not announced a final agreement. His mother's attorney, Jeffrey Walker, spoke for the family in the lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). Sheriff Eric Taylor says he hanged himself in his cell, and his mother Rosario Herrera's lawsuit alleges understaffing at the San Benito County jail made the death preventable.
Reported by: San Benito County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Rosario Herrera, through her lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother, Rosario Herrera, sued San Benito County over his death in the county jail, alleging understaffing, and the case was reportedly settled for $450,000, though the county had not announced a final agreement.