UPDATE: Families of two inmates who died in San Diego jails last year have filed urgent civil rights lawsuits, alleging systemic neglect by the Sheriff’s Office and its medical contractors. The lawsuits, announced just last week, detail the tragic cases of Callen Lines, 31, and Corey Dean, 43, who both suffered from severe medical and mental health issues while in custody.
Both lawsuits accuse jail staff of ignoring desperate pleas for help, leading to fatal outcomes. Lines died from drug withdrawal in the Las Colinas women’s jail on May 11, 2023, just one day after her arrest. Dean, who struggled with schizophrenia, passed away in the Vista jail two months later, after enduring weeks in solitary confinement.
According to the lawsuits, Lines was a nursing assistant and mother of two who had been trying to overcome substance abuse after a traumatic event. Her family claims she suffered a withdrawal-related seizure just two weeks before her arrest, which required emergency medical treatment. Despite her frank disclosure of her medical history during the intake process, Lines reportedly received inadequate monitoring and treatment for her condition.
Witness accounts reveal that, just hours before her death, Lines pressed her cell intercom repeatedly, pleading for medical assistance and asserting she was having trouble breathing. According to her cellmate, deputies dismissed her cries, telling her to “sit down.” Tragically, the lawsuit states that when deputies finally checked on her, she was found unresponsive, with her body exhibiting severe discoloration.
The lawsuit emphasizes a pattern of neglect, pointing to previous incidents of untreated withdrawal in San Diego jails, including prior deaths that echo Lines’ case. Notably, the family of Elisa Serna received a $14 million settlement following her death in 2019 under similar circumstances.
Meanwhile, the family of Corey Dean alleges that staff at the Vista jail ignored his known mental health issues, placing him in the general population without a psychiatric evaluation. During his time in custody, Dean reportedly expressed his distress through erratic behavior, including flooding his cell and smearing feces on himself. Despite these alarming signs, he was not moved to a psychiatric unit.
The lawsuit claims that after a clinician recommended Dean’s transfer to a mental health facility, he was instead placed in solitary confinement, where he subsequently died. Eyewitness testimonies from other inmates confirm that Dean was often ignored while pleading for help.
Both lawsuits argue that the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office was aware of ongoing issues within the jail system yet failed to implement necessary reforms or hold staff accountable for neglect.
The Sheriff’s Office has not publicly commented on the lawsuits, citing pending litigation. However, Sheriff Kelly Martinez has previously stated a commitment to improving jail conditions and reducing death rates.
In 2022, a staggering 19 inmates died in San Diego jails, with 20 more reported in subsequent years, highlighting a troubling trend that continues to raise alarms among advocacy groups and family members.
As these legal battles unfold, the communities affected by these tragedies are left to grapple with the urgent need for systemic change within the correctional health care system. The families of Lines and Dean are seeking justice not only for their loved ones but also hope to shine a light on the pressing issues of medical neglect and mental health care within jails.
This developing story underscores the critical need for accountability in correctional facilities as families demand answers and reform.
