Michael Hermon
Michael Hermon, 47, was a Gulf War veteran who taught college classes, loved philosophy and travel, and was close to his son Alek and his father Tom. He was struck repeatedly in the face by another person in a housing unit at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, in March 2019, and was later released while in a medically induced coma and died after life support was removed on March 24, 2019. The Alameda County coroner classified his death as a homicide, citing medical complications from blunt injuries to the head. The sheriff's office first described the death as a medical matter and a compassionate release, and the district attorney declined to file charges, while his family says they still have many unanswered questions.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed). The Alameda County coroner ruled his death a homicide from blunt head injuries after another person punched him at Santa Rita Jail, while the sheriff's office first described it as a medical matter and a compassionate release and his family says they still have many unanswered questions.
Reported by: Alameda County Coroner (medical examiner or coroner); Alameda County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his family.