Martinez Duncan
Martinez Duncan, 24, died on November 20, 2025, after a fire broke out in his cell in the residential treatment unit of Cook County Jail in Chicago, where he was held. The sheriff's office said a preliminary review found that a lit wick started the fire, while leaked incident reports say he and another man stayed in the burning cell for about sixteen minutes and that officers used pepper spray on them. Officers removed him and his cellmate to a holding area, where he became unresponsive, and he was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Cook County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, citing cardiac arrest during a physical struggle with restraint, with smoke inhalation, atherosclerosis and obesity listed as contributing factors, though other reports say the ruling was still pending. The Illinois State Police and the sheriff's office are investigating, and questions about the force used and the response remain open.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide from cardiac arrest during a physical struggle with restraint, while the sheriff's office says his body was left slumped in the holding area for a period and the cause remains under investigation by state police; leaked incident reports describe officers using pepper spray and closing the chuckhole on his hand, and the sheriff's office says officers did not respond promptly once the fire was found.
Reported by: Cook County medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); Cook County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); leaked incident reports written by the officers involved; Illinois State Police (outside investigators).
News reports (10)
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Death in Custody Reports (edition of 2026-07-28)
- Man dies after fire in Cook County Jail cell - Chicago Sun-Times
- Detainee Killed in Fire Inside Cook County Jail Cell
- Inmate dies at Cook County Jail after fire in his cell
- Jail Officials Think Fire That Killed Detainee May Have Been Caused By 'Lit Wick'
- Another death at Cook County Jail raises questions amid ongoing transparency fight
- Cook County Jail safety concerns raised after inmate's death ruled a homicide - Chicago Sun-Times
- Cook County Jail safety concerns raised after inmate's death ruled a homicide
- Sixteen Minutes in a Burning Cell
- Escapes. Fires. Rebellions. Trove of records reveals chaos inside Illinois county jails.