Michael Wilson
Michael Wilson, 32, had congestive heart failure and a pacemaker and depended on daily medication. He was held at San Diego County's Central Jail for about nine days in February 2019, and his family says he went days without his prescribed heart medication despite repeated requests for care. He collapsed after falling from his bunk on February 14, 2019, and died later that day at UCSD Medical Center. His mother, a retired school nurse, described him as loving and caring, always thinking of others before himself. His mother's federal lawsuit alleged medical neglect, and in October 2024, just before trial, the county agreed to pay nearly $5 million.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The autopsy attributed his death to congestive heart failure, and his mother's lawsuit says jail staff withheld his prescribed heart medication for days despite repeated requests for care.
Reported by: autopsy report; his mother's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother sued San Diego County over his death at the Central Jail, and the county settled for nearly $5 million in October 2024, just before trial.
News reports (3)
- After record $15 million settlement, San Diego County still confronts a slew of other jail-death lawsuits - San Diego Union-Tribune
- Nearly 6 years after man’s death in jail, county agrees to pay $5M just before trial - San Diego Union-Tribune
- Montgomery Steppe proposes new oversight body for Sheriff’s Office - San Diego Union-Tribune