Family Seeks Answers in Death of Inmate Amid Concerns Over Mental Health Care

The relatives of Daniel Magaña, a 40-year-old man who died following his discovery in an unconscious state in a downtown Los Angeles jail cell, are seeking clarity regarding the events surrounding his death. They are questioning whether signs of a mental health crisis were overlooked by the authorities.

Magaña passed away on September 5 at a local hospital, which took place about 10 days after he was found unresponsive in his cell within the Twin Towers Correctional Facility. He was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on August 21, following allegations of evading law enforcement, and was detained the same day at the downtown jail.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department records identify Magaña as the ninth person to have died this year while being housed at Twin Towers. Another inmate died on September 20, with the cause still pending an autopsy.

The family of Magaña filed a wrongful death claim on September 21, stating that authorities were aware of his enduring mental health challenges and had been informed during his booking about his suicidal expressions. The claim details that a medical emergency on the day following his arrival led to hospitalization at the Los Angeles General Medical Center. Upon his return to jail, the family’s claim insists that he was neither placed in suitable acute mental health housing nor given the necessary psychiatric evaluation, monitoring, medication, and treatment corresponding to his condition.

Despite the Sheriff’s Department typically accommodating prisoners with mental health needs at the Twin Towers, Magaña’s family asserts that he was not moved to a specialized unit addressing more complex cases. On August 25, Magaña experienced another medical crisis, leading to his collapse; jail staff attempted to resuscitate him before rushing him to the hospital where he died on September 5.

The family persists in contacting the Sheriff’s Department for clarity but has received incomplete responses about Magaña’s circumstances. The department’s website references the death of an inmate matching Magaña’s profile who died following an illness or injury at Twin Towers, with the manner of death awaiting autopsy results.

In a response communicated with The Times, the Sheriff’s Department emphasized its commitment to in-custody deaths. It stated that prompt and thorough safety checks are vital for protecting the health and wellbeing of those detained. It underlined that the complexity of each death in custody requires consideration of an individual’s medical history, initial condition upon entering custody, and surrounding circumstances.

Magaña’s sister, Alejandra, remembered her brother as a sociable individual, passionate about cars from an early age due to their father’s influence. Despite being diagnosed with bipolar and schizoaffective disorders in his teenage years, Alejandra noted that mental health was seldom discussed within their traditional Mexican family.

Before being incarcerated, Magaña had generally managed his mental health challenges through medication, Alejandra mentioned. The day of August 21 showed signs of psychosis when, amid preparations for their mother’s birthday party, Magaña spoke about self-harm. The family, accustomed to such episodes, reached out to psychiatric emergency services and were informed that his situation warranted evaluation. After leaving home, the family called law enforcement, fearing he might harm himself or others.

When police informed them that Magaña had been detained for evading the police, his family remained uninformed about his situation while he was at Van Nuys jail, later transferred to Twin Towers. Magaña didn’t appear in court, and subsequent inquiries provided no direct information, Alejandra claims. Visits to the hospital revealed conflicting reports about his condition, with one suggestion attributing his injuries to a fall while another to asphyxiation.

Alejandra expresses belief that more attentive measures could have prevented her brother’s death. Magaña’s surviving family includes three sons and two daughters, aged 11-22. His children vocalized the significant emotional void his death created. His son, Noah, aged 18, expressed the deeply painful experience, emphasizing the need to honor his father’s memory.

Alejandra, aged 13, shared how his father’s Monte Carlo parked outside their home resonates as a reminder of his yearning.

L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna earlier acknowledged the difficulties in reducing in-custody deaths amid an aging detainee demographic often suffering from substance abuse or chronic health issues. Luna has sought a review of jail conditions after multiple in-custody deaths occurring over three months. Efforts include deploying body-worn cameras to improve conditions at various detention centers.

According to officials, 46 in-custody deaths occurred in 2025, marking a rise from 2024’s 32 deaths.