Sandra Vela
Sandra Lee Vela, 52, of Soledad, called her family every day, and her family described a long history of seizure disorder, chronic pain, diabetes and depression. She was held at the Monterey County Jail, where the coroner's report says she died by hanging in her cell around 2:28 a.m. on March 24, 2015, and classes the death as a suicide. Her family's claim says jail staff and the medical provider should have recognized and treated her serious medical conditions, and that the jail's policies and training were inadequate. According to KSBW, the family won a summary judgment against the county, and the case later settled for $2.85 million.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The coroner's report gives hanging as the cause, and her family's claim says jail staff and the medical provider should have recognized and treated her serious medical conditions.
Reported by: coroner's report (medical examiner or coroner); Lawyer Lori Rifkin (family or their lawyers); news reporting on the case timeline.
Lawsuit: Her family filed a claim alleging jail staff and the medical provider failed to treat her serious medical conditions, and the case later settled with Monterey County for $2.85 million.