Luis Andrew Martinez
Luis Andrew Martinez, a former football star and wrestler in Cupertino who later became known as the Naked Guy in Berkeley, had schizophrenia, according to his family and news accounts. He was held at the Santa Clara County jail for about 29 months, during which he was hospitalized several times for his mental health. He died by suicide in his cell on May 18, 2006, after tying a plastic bag around his head. His mother, Esther Krenn, sued the county for wrongful death, alleging he was released from an acute psychiatric unit to a maximum security cell without adequate follow-up care and that only one officer was on duty when he died. In 2009 the county settled for $1 million and agreed to notify family members when people are taken to the acute psychiatric unit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). His family's lawsuit says he was released from an acute psychiatric unit to a maximum security cell without adequate follow-up care and that only one officer was on duty when he died; the county settled for $1 million.
Reported by: Family's lawyers and mother, Esther Krenn, in a federal wrongful death suit (family or their lawyers); Santa Clara County (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family sued Santa Clara County in federal court for wrongful death and the county settled for $1 million in 2009.