Joseph Jaramillo
Joseph Jaramillo, 41, became ill while held at the Pueblo County Detention Center in Pueblo, Colorado, in March 2016, according to his mother, Syliva Jaramillo. His family says he was hospitalized in critical condition and released on a personal recognizance bond, and that he died a day later; his mother questioned why he was released. His brother Rodney Jaramillo's federal lawsuit says deputies took Joseph to the floor during a dispute over a shower in February 2016, that he lost consciousness, and that medical staff did not properly treat a worsening head injury. Sheriff Kirk Taylor disputes the lawsuit's account, saying an internal investigation was thorough and an autopsy found the death was from natural causes.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says an autopsy found natural causes, but his brother's federal lawsuit says deputies beat him and took him to the floor during a shower dispute, and that medical staff did not properly treat his worsening head injury.
Reported by: Pueblo County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk Taylor (the agency that held him); Rodney Jaramillo's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His brother, Rodney Jaramillo, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Pueblo County jail deputies took him to the floor and that medical staff failed to properly treat his head injury.