SACRAMENTO, California — The family of 40-year-old Asaiah Germone Washington is looking for answers after he died in his cell on July 26.
It’s been five days since Jadah Washington’s father was killed, and five days since she received a voicemail from the coroner with the worst possible news.
“His sudden and untimely passing has left a void in our hearts that can never be filled. As we mourn the loss of my father we are also confronted with reality that his life was cut short due to grievous mistakes made by those entrusted to protect and serve our community,” Jadah said.
Her father Asaiah Washington died at the Sacramento County Jail.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said Washington and another inmate were found unresponsive in their cell. Deputies used Narcan and were able to revive the other inmate but not Washington.
His wife Tonette and the rest of his family are demanding answers. They said he was clean and living at a half-way house, passing drug tests weekly.
“My husband should be here right now. We talked to him at 10 a.m. 11:15 a.m., he was gone,” Tonette said.
She said when they spoke Friday he sounded “sluggish, not his usual upbeat self.” Washington was also a type-two diabetic and required insulin.
His family said the court did not receive one of his drug tests in June, which is why he was taken into custody.
“How do you overdose in a Sacramento County jail? Where did it come from? Did it even happen or did you just give it to him?” Tonette said.
Washington is the fifth person to die in the custody of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office since May. Others include:
May 5: 45-year-old Lope Elwin Tolosa died in the detox cell due to Hemorrhagic Intestinal Volvulus. The case remains open, however coroner reports are not available.
May 12: 55-year-old David Barefield died during the fingerprinting process of intake. The cause of death was fentanyl and methamphetamine intoxication.
June 8: Smiley Martin died in Sacramento County Jail. No cause of death has been released.
June 28: 41-year-old Juan Angel Rodriguez died at Rio Cosumnes Corrections Center. The cause of death is pending.
It’s an issue that Meg White, an advocate with Justice Unites Individuals and Communities Everywhere, said shouldn’t exist.
“We need independent oversight. We need community resources. This jail is already under federal consent decree for inhumane and unconstitutional practices,” White said.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said they will not comment on the case until the investigation is complete, and that includes the cause of death being released by the coroner. The coroner’s office said toxicology results take six to nine months.
The case is happening after six people were arrested in February for smuggling drugs into the jail, including a medical assistant.
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