Santee — 53‑year‑old Linda Bagby was found unresponsive and later confirmed dead on June 13, 2025 while in custody at the Las Colinas Detention & Reentry Facility in Santee, according to San Diego County Sheriff’s officials.
Incident Overview
At around 4:25 p.m., deputies were serving dinner to inmates when they discovered Bagby unresponsive in her cell. Despite efforts to revive her, Bagby would be pronounced dead at 4:35 p.m.
Bagby had been in custody since January 3. The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is investigating this incident, and the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board has also been informed.
Inmate Medical Care & Constitutional Standards
Individuals in custody are protected by the Eighth Amendment (if convicted) and the Fourteenth Amendment (if pretrial). Constitutional law requires that inmates receive timely and adequate medical attention. Failure to do so—known legally as “deliberate indifference”—can form the basis of a civil rights claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Detention-Related Deaths in San Diego
In-custody fatalities continue to be an alarming trend in San Diego, as this is the 5th such incident so far in 2025. A 2023 San Diego Union-Tribune investigation also found that Las Colinas experienced three medical emergencies within the same month, compounding concerns over staffing levels, nurse availability after hours, and the frequency of health screenings.
Seeking Accountability for In-Custody Deaths
We at the Sehat Law Firm offer our condolences to the family of Linda Bagby.
How can our firm assist with an investigation? Should you decide to consult with our firm, our investigation typically includes some or all the following investigative activities
- obtaining and reviewing medical records, autopsy reports and blood toxicology screening reports
- requesting a Public Records Request Act for documents and evidence for locating and interviewing critical witnesses to an incident
- subpoenaing third party entities if our firm is retained and a lawsuit is initiated
- securing surveillance video evidence, and at minimum, placing the jail entity on notice to preserve potential video and tangible evidence of an incident.
- identifying and contacting potential witnesses, if available.
What should I know if I want to file a wrongful death lawsuit?
Contact our experienced Civil Rights lawyers so we can analyze all your options and hear the specifics of your case. We will also assess your loved one’s history with the jail facility they were treated at. Having as much documentation and physical evidence as possible will help prove your wrongful death case so our attorneys can examine them and help bring you and your loved one justice.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by police misconduct or an in-custody incident, contact The Sehat Law Firm at (949) 825-5200 for a free consultation, or complete the form at the bottom of this page to discuss your case with our legal team.
Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and should not be considered legal or medical advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary, and any referenced here may not apply to your situation. This article was created from secondary sources and may not be completely accurate. If you have any concerns, please contact us, and we’ll update or remove the post as needed.
