Jose Banda Pichardo
Jose Banda Pichardo was 22 years old and lived in Palm Desert, where his parents, Jose Trejo Lugo and Susana Banda Pichardo, have pursued the case in court. He had a diagnosed mental illness and died on February 23, 2019, while held at the Imperial County Regional Adult Detention Facility. His family's federal complaint says he was denied his prescribed psychiatric medication, even though his father tried to bring it to the jail, that he was not placed under enhanced monitoring, and that he was found hanging in his cell. The death was ruled a suicide. In 2024 the county settled the family's claims for $5.5 million without admitting fault, while claims against the medical contractor remain open after a mistrial.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The death was ruled a suicide by hanging, and his family's federal complaint says he was denied his prescription psychiatric medication and received no enhanced monitoring despite his diagnosed mental illness.
Reported by: federal complaint filed by his family.
Lawsuit: His family sued Imperial County, which settled the claims for $5.5 million in 2024 without admitting fault, while the claims against the medical contractor were left open after a mistrial.