On June 13, tragedy struck at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in San Diego County when inmate Linda Bagby, aged 53, was found unresponsive in her cell. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office confirmed the time of the discovery as approximately 4:25 PM. When deputies serving dinner found her, they immediately sought to administer emergency aid and initiated CPR efforts as they awaited the arrival of paramedics.
Despite attempts by the facility's medical staff and the fast-responding Santee Fire Department to critically save her life, Bagby was pronounced dead within ten minutes of being discovered. Bagby, from El Cajon, had been in custody at the facility since January 3, facing serious charges that included assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and felony vandalism, as reported by Hoodline.
Following the incident, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office expressed its condolences to the family of Linda Bagby and has appointed a Family Liaison Officer to support them during this difficult period. The exact cause and details surrounding Bagby's death are now under investigation by the Sheriff's Homicide Unit, which is the standard procedure in cases of in-custody deaths. Moreover, the Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) was duly notified regarding the incident.
An autopsy was completed by the Medical Examiner's Office, which determined that complications of dilated cardiomyopathy, including congestive mild hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, along with a history of chronic alcoholism and morbid obesity, were contributing factors to Ms. Bagby's death. "The manner of death was classified as natural," according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. This is yet to bring closure as the Sheriff's Homicide Unit continues to thoroughly investigate to ensure all aspects of this incident are fully examined.
