Violet Denetso
Violet Denetso, 44, died at UNM Hospital after being held at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. The jail said she complained of stomach pain on the morning of Saturday, December 28, and was taken to the hospital more than three hours later, where she died that night. Other people held at the jail, speaking through an attorney, say she had complained of stomach pain for days without action. Her sister said doctors told her Violet had an infection from a ruptured intestine and suffered a series of heart attacks.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). Her sister says doctors told her an infection from a ruptured intestine and a series of heart attacks killed her, and an attorney for other inmates says she complained of stomach pain for days without action, while the jail says she was taken to hospital more than three hours after complaining.
Reported by: Violet Denetso's sister (family or their lawyers); attorney for other inmates at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (family or their lawyers).