Reynaldo Gil called 911 for medical help for his wife Damaris Rodriguez, but instead police took her to jail.
For 4 days, jail staff observed her vomiting, stumbling in circles, lying on her face & other erratic behavior and did nothing. Then she died.
nbcnews.com/news/us-news/m…
For 4 days, jail staff observed her vomiting, stumbling in circles, lying on her face & other erratic behavior and did nothing. Then she died.
nbcnews.com/news/us-news/m…
Although not fully fluent in English, when Mr. Gil called 911 he told the dispatcher through an interpreter she was experiencing a mental health crisis and suffered from bipolar disorder and psychosis.
He told them he was not reporting a crime and needed a doctor.
He told them he was not reporting a crime and needed a doctor.
However police arrived before the ambulance and made the decision to arrest Ms. Rodriguez and take her to South Correctional Entity Jail (SCORE).
This was faster, cheaper and involved less paperwork than taking her to the hospital.
This was faster, cheaper and involved less paperwork than taking her to the hospital.
From the time Ms. Rodriguez was booked into jail, her movements were recorded on surveillance video. The family have now obtained most of the footage (parts of which are excerpted below).
Their lawyer (rightly) describes it as a "window into hell." kiro7.com/news/local/mot…
Their lawyer (rightly) describes it as a "window into hell." kiro7.com/news/local/mot…
Many parts of video were missing, including from the time when Ms. Rodriguez stopped breathing, and during periods when jail staff claimed that they had checked on her in her cell.
Over more than 4 days, Ms. Rodriguez was held in solitary confinement. She was not taken before a judge (as is required by federal law) to be arraigned.
Jail staff observed & noted that she was suffering from physical & mental health conditions, & did not get a doctor or nurse.
Jail staff observed & noted that she was suffering from physical & mental health conditions, & did not get a doctor or nurse.
They put a sheet over the window to her cell so they didn't have to look at her, they put a towel at the bottom of the door so vomit and urine didn't leak into the hallway and they stopped giving her meals for more than 24 hours when she became unresponsive.
She died of ketoacidosis and water intoxication.
The family say, when she died, the deputy who originally arrested her called her husband and told him he should "call the medical examiner" about his wife.
Jail staff have not been disciplined nor criminally charged.
The family say, when she died, the deputy who originally arrested her called her husband and told him he should "call the medical examiner" about his wife.
Jail staff have not been disciplined nor criminally charged.
