Jonathan Paul Thomas
Jonathan Paul Thomas, 45, died in January 2022 while held at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail. His family was notified and his brother later claimed his remains, and his girlfriend in Santa Maria was told of his death. Deputies moved him into a single-occupancy safety cell and restrained him there, and reports say he was left face down. The Santa Barbara County Coroner's Office, whose autopsy was signed by Coroner's Detective Chad Biedinger, ruled the death sudden and accidental, citing a heart condition, methamphetamine and the body's response to restraint, and found no foul play, while advocacy groups raised concerns about the circumstances.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The Santa Barbara County Coroner's Office ruled the death accidental, citing heart disease, methamphetamine and restraint, while two physicians retained by a civil grand jury said it should have been ruled a homicide, and the grand jury's account says deputies left him face down in the cell.
Reported by: Santa Barbara County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); civil grand jury and the two physicians it retained.