Rancho Cucamonga – 26-year-old Mariel Mays of Adelanto died in custody of the West Valley Detention Center on April 19, 2026. He had been in custody since March 24, 2026. jail

Incident Details

At approximately 4:55 a.m, deputies found Mays in medical distress and unresponsive. Both deputies and medical staff performed life-saving measures until personnel from American Medical Response and Rancho Cucamonga Fire arrived. Despite these efforts, Mays would be pronounced dead at the scene.

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail is investigating the official cause of death.

Legal Oversight and Standards

California requires law enforcement agencies to report all deaths in custody under California Government Code § 12525.

Investigators will evaluate:

  • Whether appropriate monitoring and safety-check procedures were followed
  • The timeliness and adequacy of the medical response
  • Whether any environmental or procedural factors contributed to the emergency
  • Compliance with state and local jail-safety standards

If authorities determine that unconstitutional conduct, negligence, or inadequate medical care contributed to the death, families may pursue civil-rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Seeking Accountability for In Custody Deaths

If you witnessed this incident, knew Mariel Mays, or are seeking to understand your rights, consider the following steps:

1. Request Public Records

This may include medical logs, transportation-area surveillance footage, emergency-response records, and coroner findings.

2. Preserve Any Evidence You Have

Document the time, location, and what you observed. Save any videos, photos, or notes related to the incident.

3. Consult with a Civil-Rights Attorney

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 an in-custody death such as this one involving Mariel Mays, contact The Sehat Law Firm at (949) 825-5200 for a free consultation, or complete the confidential form at the bottom of this page to speak 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 will update or remove the post as needed.