Family sues over alleged neglect leading to inmate's death at Twin Towers jail
The family of Daniel Magaña has filed a wrongful-death claim accusing Twin Towers Correctional Facility staff of failing to provide needed psychiatric care, after he died following two medical emergencies in custody.
Daniel Magaña, a 40-year-old man with a long history of bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, was arrested on August 21 for allegedly evading police and booked into Twin Towers Correctional Facility. Within a day he experienced a medical emergency that required hospitalization, yet his family says jail officials did not move him to an acute mental-health housing unit or provide the psychiatric evaluation, monitoring, medication, and treatment he needed.
He was found unresponsive again on August 25, revived by staff, and later died at Los Angeles General Medical Center on September 5, marking the ninth inmate death at Twin Towers in 2024. The family filed a wrongful-death claim on September 21, accusing the sheriff’s department of neglect despite being aware of his mental-health crisis and suicidal ideation. Sheriff Robert Luna has previously ordered a review of jail conditions after a series of in-custody deaths, and the county’s Office of Inspector General has highlighted inconsistent safety checks as a systemic issue.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential systemic failures in caring for mentally ill inmates, raising concerns about jail safety and accountability.
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