Lorenzo Herrera
Lorenzo Herrera was 19 and worked as a janitor at a local high school; his parents, Carlos and Anna, remember him as gentle and happy-go-lucky. He had been held at the Fresno County Jail for about 66 days when a correctional officer found him dead in his cell on March 24, 2018. An autopsy determined he had been strangled, and prosecutors have charged another man held at the jail with his murder, though sources differ on the status of the investigation. His family's wrongful death lawsuit alleges that guards could not see into his cell or the video screens, that the jail was understaffed and lacked adequate cameras, that he was placed with violent people, and that a brain condition from football injuries was not sufficiently treated; the sheriff's office denies wrongdoing.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). Prosecutors and an autopsy say another inmate, Alex Pacheco, strangled him, and his family's lawsuit alleges the jail placed him with violent people, was understaffed, and could not see into his cell.
Reported by: Fresno County prosecutors; autopsy; family's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit over his death in the Fresno County Jail, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.