Starsha Silva
Starsha Silva, 36, was held at the federal women's prison in Waseca, Minnesota, when she died on May 24, 2023. Staff found her unresponsive that morning, and emergency medical personnel pronounced her dead. Her family's lawsuit says doctors had recommended urgent open-heart surgery for severe valvular heart disease, that the operation did not go ahead, and that she went weeks without adequate care. An autopsy attributed her death to complications from severe heart disease, and the Bureau of Prisons declined to comment, citing the pending case. Her mother, two siblings and four children survive her, and her family described her as someone they cherished.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). An autopsy attributed her death to complications from severe heart disease, but her family's lawsuit says prison staff never carried out doctors' recommended urgent open-heart surgery, leaving her weeks without adequate care, and the National Council asks for an independent investigation.
Reported by: autopsy reported in the warden's letter to a federal judge (medical examiner or coroner); her family's lawsuit (Loevy + Loevy attorneys) (family or their lawyers); National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls (advocates).
Lawsuit: Her family sued over her death at the Waseca federal women's prison, alleging delayed heart surgery, and the case remains pending with no reported settlement or award.