A man previously extradited from El Salvador, who was facing charges in a decades-old San Diego murder case, has died following a medical emergency while in custody. The San Diego Sheriff's Office detailed that 66-year-old Alfredo Hernandez was booked into the George Bailey Detention Facility on September 23, 2024, after extradition for a 1991 murder that occurred in the Emerald Hills area, as reported by the San Diego Sheriff's Office.
Hernandez was transported to a local hospital on November 15 due to shortness of breath and subsequently moved to the ICU to closely monitor his deteriorating health situation. It was on the morning of November 26 that the Sheriff's Homicide investigators were to be notified about his passing. While the Sheriff's Office has a protocol to immediately follow through with a thorough investigation following any in-custody death, the details of such a probing process have yet to unfold clearly to the public.
The death notification was dispatched to the Consulate General of El Salvador, and the Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) was also informed of the incident, aligning with the procedural oversight guidelines. The cause of death, released by the Medical Examiner's Office, was attributed to "sepsis due to methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus pneumonia" with the manner of death being natural, as per the report issued by the San Diego Sheriff's Office.
Further commenting on the matter, the Sheriff's Department stated, "One of Sheriff Martinez highest priorities has been improving our jails." The steps include investment in infrastructure upgrades, increased medical and behavioral health care, and improved in-custody safety measures. Advanced screening tools, such as body scanners and metal detectors, are used by specialized deputies to check individuals entering custody, aiming to halt the flow of contraband into facilities.
Meanwhile, an article published by Hoodline reports that efforts are still underway to locate and inform Hernandez's family. A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to support his relatives. The findings of the investigation into Hernandez's death, alongside the Medical Examiner's conclusions, are pending and are anticipated to shed more light on the treatment of detainees and the circumstances that led to this fatal outcome.
