An in-custody death that occurred in March at the Maguire Correctional Facility in San Mateo County has been ruled a suicide by the Coroner’s Office. The deceased, identified as 46-year-old Hunter Bergner, was found unresponsive in his cell by Correctional Officers. Following immediate efforts to revive him, which included CPR and other lifesaving measures, Bergner was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation into Bergner's death was a multi-agency effort, with the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Coroner’s Office each conducting separate probes to understand the circumstances thoroughly. To rapidly determine the cause and manner of death, the Coroner’s Office examined the evidence and ruled the death as suicide. "Suicide has a profound impact on us all and we extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Bergner’s loved ones during this time," Sheriff Christina Corpus said in a statement obtained by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. She further emphasized the department's commitment to transparency and the safety of those in their custody.

The incident occurred on March 15, at around 3:16 p.m., soon after the Correctional Officers conducted a routine cell check in the General Population pod where Bergner was housed. Paramedics arrived shortly after the Correctional Officers initiated the emergency response, but their attempts to save Bergner were unsuccessful.

In the aftermath, each agency worked independently to ensure a detailed and unbiased investigation into the event. The District Attorney's Office and the Coroner's Office recently shared the findings of their respective independent investigations with the Sheriff's Office. "While it is difficult for us to share these deeply personal findings, it is because of our commitment to transparency that we share them with the community", Sheriff Corpus expressed, according to the aforementioned Facebook post.