Yuri Brand
Yuri Brand, 39, of El Cerrito, had schizophrenia, according to the federal lawsuit filed by his mother, Erica Edgerly. He was held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, where the Alameda County sheriff's office said deputies found him unresponsive in his cell during a routine check on September 13, 2023. The sheriff's office opened a homicide investigation, said his cellmate is suspected in the death, and said the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau will determine the cause. The lawsuit says deputies did not place him in mental health housing, that he was put in a cell with a man who suffocated him with a mattress within about 45 minutes, and that his medication was withheld and his tongue was cut. The sheriff's office said it had not received a lawsuit and would not comment on pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office called it a homicide and said his cellmate is suspected, while his mother's wrongful death lawsuit says deputies failed to place him in mental health housing, put him with a cellmate who suffocated him with a mattress, and withheld his medication.
Reported by: Alameda County sheriff's office (the agency that held him); Alameda County Coroner's Bureau (medical examiner or coroner); Erica Edgerly, his mother, and her lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother, Erica Edgerly, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit over his death, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.