A 45-year-old inmate at the Vista Jail was found injured in his cell Tuesday night and later died at a hospital in an apparent suicide, sheriff’s officials said.
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The man, who was housed alone in his cell, was discovered hanging during a security check around 10:50 p.m., sheriff’s homicide Lt. Juan Marquez said in a news release.
Deputies immediately began life-saving measures and called 911, Marquez said. The inmate was then taken to a hospital, where his death was pronounced about an hour later.
Marquez said the man had been arrested in February 2024 on suspicion of several child molestation allegations. He was scheduled to return to court next week.
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The inmate’s name was not immediately released.
“The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office extends its sympathies to the decedent’s family and all those affected by this loss,” Marquez said. “A sheriff’s family liaison officer has been assigned to support the family during this difficult time.”
The Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board was notified of the incident.
As with all in-custody deaths, the sheriff’s Homicide Unit responded and is conducting an investigation. The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office, officials said.
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