Melissa de la Cruz
Melissa de la Cruz, 45, was held at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center in Texas in April 2023 when she began reporting severe chest and stomach pain and vomiting. Her daughter, Ashlee Gonzalez, says in a wrongful death lawsuit that jail staff did not respond adequately, and that de la Cruz often called her from jail about her pain. The lawsuit says de la Cruz was driven to a hospital in a county vehicle on April 13 and died there on April 22 of acute sepsis and organ failure. The lawsuit against Hidalgo County alleges deliberate indifference to her medical needs, and the county had not responded to requests for comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). Her daughter Ashlee Gonzalez's wrongful death lawsuit says Hidalgo County jail staff did not respond adequately to Melissa de la Cruz's chest and stomach pain and vomiting, and that she died of sepsis and organ failure after being driven to a hospital.
Reported by: Ashlee Gonzalez, daughter, in a wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her daughter, Ashlee Gonzalez, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hidalgo County over her death at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center, and no settlement or award has been reported.