Pedro Ruiz
Pedro Ruiz, 19, was found in his cell at Cook County Jail on February 1, 2020, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The sheriff's office said he had apparent head trauma. Prosecutors allege he was beaten to death by his cellmate. His mother's wrongful-death lawsuit says jail officials knew of a high likelihood of attack and housed the two men together anyway. The sheriff's office said an internal investigation is underway, and the medical examiner had not yet ruled on the cause and manner of death.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). Prosecutors allege his cellmate beat him to death, and his mother's wrongful-death lawsuit says jail officials knew of a high likelihood of attack but housed them together anyway; the sheriff's office says an internal investigation is underway and the medical examiner has not yet ruled.
Reported by: Cook County prosecutors; his mother's wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Cook County sheriff's office (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His mother filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against jail officials, alleging they housed him with a cellmate despite knowing of a high likelihood of attack.