A 34-year-old man awaiting trial on murder and assault charges at San Diego Central Jail was found hanging in his cell on Sunday afternoon and later died at a hospital, according to sheriff's officials. Deputies discovered him during a routine check around 2:55 PM, called for help, and jail medical staff and San Diego Fire Department paramedics began life-saving measures before rushing him to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead there at about 1:15 PM yesterday, and authorities say his family has been notified.
Found Hanging During Routine Check
The incident was detailed in a release from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. Deputies conducting a routine welfare check found the man hanging inside his assigned cell about 2:55 PM Sunday and immediately activated 9-1-1 while starting life-saving efforts. Paramedics and San Diego Fire Department crews took over treatment and transported him to a nearby hospital, where he remained until his death.
According to the same release, the man had been arrested by San Diego police on Feb. 14 and booked into the sheriff's custody the next day. He was being held on suspicion of murder and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
Investigation And Oversight
As reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Sheriff's Homicide Unit responded to the jail, and the Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board was notified, which is standard protocol following an in-custody death. Officials said the county medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.
Local Context
The case lands in the middle of ongoing scrutiny over in-custody deaths in San Diego County. A 2025 report and subsequent coverage have highlighted multimillion-dollar settlements to families of people who died in local jails, including a $16 million settlement announced last October, while watchdogs have criticized jail monitoring and medical care, per reporting by KPBS.
What Happens Next
The Sheriff's Homicide Unit is conducting a full investigation, and the county medical examiner will make the final call on cause and manner of death. A sheriff's family liaison officer has been assigned to support the man's relatives and serve as a point of contact as investigators review jail procedures and records connected to the incident, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.
