Mark Pajas
Mark Pajas Sr., a 56-year-old man from Greenfield, was a loving family member who was valued by his wife, four adult children and extended family, according to his family's attorney, Lori Rifkin, apart from his struggle with addiction. He died in January 2015 in a detox cell at the Monterey County Jail, within about 20 hours of being booked there, after telling medical staff he was a heroin user who needed help with withdrawal. A federal jury in a lawsuit brought by his family found that the county violated his right to adequate medical care after sheriff's deputies failed to carry out required safety checks, and awarded the family $1.6 million. A March autopsy attributed his death to cardiovascular disease, with opiate withdrawal and methamphetamine possibly contributing, and the family's claim maintains that jail staff failed to monitor his withdrawal and provide medical care.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The March autopsy attributes his death to cardiovascular disease, while the family's federal lawsuit says jail staff failed to monitor his heroin withdrawal and provide medical care, and a federal jury found deputies failed to perform required safety checks.
Reported by: March autopsy report (medical examiner or coroner); Pajas family, through attorney Lori Rifkin (family or their lawyers); federal jury.
Lawsuit: The family of Mark Pajas Sr. sued Monterey County, and a federal jury awarded them $1.6 million after finding the county violated his right to adequate medical care.