John Pantoja
John Pantoja, 31, died by hanging in a California state prison in June 2022, according to the Sacramento County coroner, and corrections officials list his death as a suicide. His sister and father describe him as a funny, loving, caring and athletic young man before he entered the juvenile justice system at 16. The family says his mental health deteriorated over his final years, including repeated stays in solitary confinement and cut-off family visits during the pandemic. They say he had been looking forward to a birthday visit from his family and a parole hearing.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The Sacramento County coroner and corrections officials say he died by hanging in a suicide, and his family says his mental health deteriorated in solitary confinement without the visits he had been looking forward to.
Reported by: Sacramento County coroner (medical examiner or coroner); corrections officials; his family.