Spiros Fonseca
Spiros Fonseca, 26, an El Cajon native, was found unresponsive in his cell at the San Diego Central Jail on June 9, 2020. Deputies and jail medical staff gave him aid, and he died about four hours later at UC San Diego Medical Center. The San Diego County sheriff's office said he was alone in the cell and that he died by suicide, and the medical examiner ruled the death a suicide from asphyxia due to hanging. His mother, Pam Fonseca, said a death certificate states he hanged himself with a towel from an upper bunk, and his sister, Sharron Fonseca Roberts, said she last spoke with him on June 5.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office and the medical examiner ruled it a suicide by hanging, but his mother, Pam Fonseca, disputes that account and says a death certificate lists a towel hanging, and the sources report staff did not respond quickly enough once he was found.
Reported by: San Diego sheriff's office (the agency that held him); San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Pam Fonseca, his mother (family or their lawyers).