Ruben Nunez
Ruben Nunez, 46, had schizophrenia, and his mother, Lydia Nunez, remembers that he always told her he loved her. He was held at San Diego Central Jail in August 2015, where staff found him vomiting in his cell on August 13 and later found him unresponsive that day. The medical examiner attributed his death to complications of water intoxication, which another report links to psychogenic polydipsia, a condition that causes excessive thirst and water drinking. His mother's federal lawsuit says jail staff ignored records showing he was at risk and failed to act when he was in distress, and that Patton State Hospital did not send a specific alert before he was transferred.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled he died of complications of water intoxication, while his mother's federal lawsuit says jail staff ignored records showing his risk and failed to act when he was in distress.
Reported by: San Diego County medical examiner (medical examiner or coroner); his mother's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother filed a federal lawsuit over his death at San Diego Central Jail, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.