Rodrick Roman Castro
Rodrick Roman Castro, 34, was held at Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy, California, when he was found dead in his cell on October 24, 2017. A federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by attorney Alexis Galindo on behalf of his family says he was stabbed 92 times with an ice pick. The lawsuit alleges officials knew of a threat against him after questioning him about a drug-related allegation involving a former cellmate, left him unguarded in an unlocked cell, and did not monitor live video that could have prompted intervention. The family says officials announced his death publicly before notifying his mother, Virginia. The state has agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle the case, but the settlement was not finalized and the corrections department declined to comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). A federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by Castro's family says officials left him unguarded in an unlocked cell despite knowing of the threat, and that staff did not monitor live video that could have prompted intervention.
Reported by: family's federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by attorney Alexis Galindo (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued in federal court over his death at Deuel Vocational Institution, and the state agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle, though the settlement was not yet finalized.