Jose M. Trejo Valazquez
Jose M. Trejo Valazquez, 25, died on October 21, 2024, while held at the Allen County Jail in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Indiana State Police said he had symptoms they believed may have been linked to earlier narcotics use, and that a jail nurse had checked on him that morning and staff had begun paperwork to move him to a hospital. Staff found him unresponsive in his holding cell and he was pronounced dead at 8:30 a.m. His widow's wrongful death lawsuit against the sheriff and jail staff says his cause of death was fentanyl toxicity and alleges inadequate medical care and checks, as well as overcrowded conditions. The cause and circumstances of his death remain disputed, and an autopsy was scheduled.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). Indiana State Police say symptoms may have been linked to earlier narcotics use and an autopsy was scheduled, while his widow's wrongful death lawsuit says he died of fentanyl toxicity and that the jail gave inadequate medical care, missed checks and delayed treatment.
Reported by: Indiana State Police (outside investigators); his widow's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His widow sued the Allen County sheriff and jail staff over his death, alleging inadequate medical care, missed checks and overcrowding; no settlement or award amount is reported.