Sylvestre Inzunza
Sylvestre Inzunza was 18. His sister Mariah described him as a kind and loving brother who would give his last dollar to anyone in need, and an avid boxer who planned to work in mining like their father. He died in early February 2022 at the Pima County jail in Tucson, days after being booked there, and reporting said his death was ruled a fatal overdose. His family's federal lawsuit says he was found unresponsive from fentanyl in January, treated at a hospital and returned to the jail, where he overdosed again and died alone in his cell. The lawsuit alleges understaffing and negligence by the county, the sheriff, NaphCare and jail staff; the sheriff said he could not comment on the litigation, and the county did not respond to a request for comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The death was ruled a fatal overdose, but his family's federal lawsuit says jail policies failed to keep fentanyl out and that staff placed him alone in a detox cell after his first overdose.
Reported by: family's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Arizona Luminaria death table (reporters); Tucson news report (reporters).
Lawsuit: His family sued Pima County, the sheriff and NaphCare in federal court, alleging understaffing and negligence, and the case was allowed to proceed to discovery in November 2023; no settlement or award has been reported.
Sources (5)
- Pima County jail faces scrutiny amid decade-high number of deaths
- 'He didn't deserve to die': Family sues Pima County after late teen overdoses twice on Fentanyl within week in jail
- ‘Unconstitutional hole’: How Pima County jail deaths — one recently ruled a homicide — are part of a grim pattern
- Pima County approves raise for guards at deadly jail
- Ruling in federal lawsuit over teen's death at Pima County jail could show how drugs got inside