Santos Silva
Santos Silva, 63, died on June 30, 2024, while held at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Yuma, days after hernia repair surgery. An autopsy by the Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office attributed his death to acute necrotizing esophagitis, a natural cause, with hypertensive cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity as contributing conditions. Another man held at the prison told a federal judge that Silva repeatedly asked to be seen by health staff and was denied because of a staffing shortage, and a federal judge found his death might be related to poor care after the surgery. An outside pathologist said the autopsy does not show whether earlier treatment could have saved him.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The Pinal County Medical Examiner's autopsy by Dr. Andrea Wiens Oeinck attributed the death to acute necrotizing esophagitis, a natural cause, while a fellow inmate told a federal judge that Silva repeatedly asked for health care and was denied amid a staff shortage, and the outside pathologist said the autopsy does not show whether earlier treatment could have saved him.
Reported by: Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); fellow inmate (in federal court filing) (witnesses); outside pathologist; U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver (court).