Protesters demand answers on San Diego inmate death

Protesters demand transparency from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department over an in-custody death as the death toll approaches last year’s total.

SAN DIEGO — A group of protesters gathered outside the San Diego Central Jail on Thursday, calling for greater transparency from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department regarding a recent in-custody death. The demonstration, organized by Saving Lives in Custody California, comes four days after a 35-year-old male inmate died at the facility.

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the man entered custody on August 29 and died the following day, August 30. According to the department, life-saving measures were implemented after a medical incident occurred.

“It pisses me off to see that even five and a half years later here we go again, another death,” said Paloma Serna, mother of Elisa Serna, who died in San Diego Sheriff’s custody on November 11, 2019.

This latest incident marks the eighth in-custody death in San Diego County this year, approaching last year’s total of nine deaths. The Sheriff’s Department’s website currently lists only six of the eight names of individuals who have died in custody in 2025.

“Last year we had 9 in custody deaths total. This year we’re in the month of September, we already have 8. Is it going to be 12 deaths, is it going to be 15? What’s going on?” Serna questioned.

The Sheriff’s Department stated that approximately half of the individuals who died were in hospitals rather than jail facilities, noting that some inmates require medical care.

Protesters are urging the Sheriff’s Department to release the name of the most recently deceased inmate. “The sheriff’s department hasn’t released the name yet, and so we’re waiting for that. We want to be able to make contact with the family and let them know that we are here to support them,” Serna explained.

Lieutenant Juan Marquez of the San Diego Sheriff’s Office stated that while they do not comment on active investigations, he is hopeful that more information about this death will be released by Friday.