Reneyda Aguilar-Hurtado
Reneyda Aguilar-Hurtado, a 50-year-old mother of two who worked in warehouses across the suburbs and loved telenovelas and Marvel movies with her children, died at a hospital on June 12, 2023. She had been held at the DuPage County Jail for 85 days while awaiting transfer to a state mental health center, and she had schizophrenia and lost close to 60 pounds during her time there. The county's chief forensic pathologist attributed her death to multisystem organ failure linked to failure to thrive from a psychotic disorder, and said medical neglect contributed. Her daughter's federal lawsuit alleges jail staff failed to act as her health deteriorated, the county and sheriff deny wrongdoing, and the case settled for $11 million, approved by a judge.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The county's chief forensic pathologist attributed her death to multisystem organ failure from failure to thrive due to a psychotic disorder and said medical neglect contributed, while her daughter's federal lawsuit says jail staff failed to act as her health deteriorated.
Reported by: county chief forensic pathologist; her daughter's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family sued over her death in DuPage County Jail and the county settled the federal lawsuit for $11 million, approved by a judge.
News reports (4)
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Death in Custody Reports (edition of 2026-07-28)
- Mental illness put her in DuPage County Jail. 85 days later, she was dead.
- Ill. county to pay $11M to settle lawsuit over detainee’s death after prolonged jail stay
- DuPage Undersheriff discusses correctional center protocol changes after $11 million settlement