Martin Cruz
Martin Cruz, 38, was held at the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis in October 2020. On the night of October 10, jail deputies found him lying face down in a community-style cell, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 11:30 p.m. Court documents describe an assault by other people held in the same cell block that lasted about two hours. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide caused by multiple blunt force injuries, and seven people have been charged in connection with his death. The sheriff's office said an internal investigation is pending.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. Authorities say another person held at the Marion County Jail assaulted Martin Cruz, and the death is being investigated as a homicide; an autopsy ruled it a homicide from multiple blunt force injuries, and witnesses told investigators other inmates beat him for about two hours.
Reported by: Marion County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Marion County Chief Deputy Coroner Alfarena McGinty (medical examiner or coroner); Indianapolis police (outside investigators); Court documents obtained by the Indianapolis Star (court); Witnesses held at the jail (witnesses).
News reports (8)
- News report
- News report
- Marion County Jail inmate dies after apparent stabbing, police say
- Marion Co. jail inmate found dead in apparent stabbing
- Marion County Jail hadn't reported a homicide in a decade. Then 2 happened in a week.
- 8 charged in fatal beating of man at Marion County jail
- Marion County Jail inmates charged in fellow inmate's death