Jose Trejo Velazquez
Jose Velazquez Trejo, 25, was held at the Allen County Jail in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Indiana State Police said he was showing symptoms they believed may have been linked to earlier narcotics use, and that staff had begun paperwork to move him to a hospital before he was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead on October 21, 2024. His widow, Gabriela Apodaca, has sued the sheriff and jail staff, saying he died of fentanyl toxicity and alleging overcrowding, missed checks and inadequate medical care. The Allen County coroner determined the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity, and the autopsy results are cited in the lawsuit's account.
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 the Allen County coroner determined fentanyl toxicity, but his widow's wrongful death lawsuit alleges inadequate medical care and missed checks at the jail.
Reported by: Indiana State Police (outside investigators); Allen County coroner (medical examiner or coroner); his widow's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His widow, Gabriela Apodaca, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Allen County sheriff and unnamed officers and deputies, alleging overcrowding, missed checks, delayed medical care and that he died of fentanyl toxicity; no settlement or award amount is reported.
Sources (4)
- Inmate dies at Allen County Jail after medical event
- Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Allen County Sheriff, jail staff in inmate’s 2024 death
- Woman sues sheriff, deputies over husband's 2024 death at Allen County Jail
- Widow files $750,000 wrongful death lawsuit over Allen County Jail inmate’s death