SAN ANTONIO — Jail should not be a death sentence, a grieving San Antonio mother says. So far this year, ten Bexar County Jail inmates have died. Most of those people suffered from a medical episode, according to officials.
“I know my JJ is here [in my heart], and I know he is in the world because he was an organ donor,” said Lydia Leos.
It’s been four years since Leos lost her only son, Julian Dena. The 34-year-old was being held at the Bexar County Jail when he suffered a medical episode. Leos says another inmate found Dena unresponsive in his cell and alerted the guards.
“The doctor said it was a massive heart attack because of the drugs he had ingested [at the jail],” she said. “So, for him to ingest them inside while he was getting magistrated means there was a failure to properly search him three times."
Dena struggled with addiction and homelessness for several years, Leos says.
“It was a situation that he brought onto himself; I make sure everyone knows that,” said Leos. “But it’s a human being that passed away; just like if he passed away in a car accident. I want the community to show compassion and I want the jail to show compassion.”
Leos is not alone in her pain, so she has become an advocate for other families.
“I call myself a mom with blinders until he passed away,” she said. “Now, my eyes see so much that no parent should see. But I am grateful that I see it because I can pass awareness.”
Leos says she recently spoke with Andrea Garcia's parents. The 31-year-old mother was found unresponsive by deputies in the booking section of the jail on Sept. 22. According to authorities, Garcia appeared to have experienced a medical episode exacerbated by her detoxing conditions.
In partnership with Garcia’s family, Loes is planning a peaceful protest this weekend.
“The jail needs to enforce what they were taught,” said Leos. “I don’t know if it's because they are overworked and understaffed, but that was not my son’s fault and it was not Andrea’s fault. Our jail is not running the way it’s supposed to be running. If you have a medical ward, RNs and guards, how is it that all these inmates are dying? The jail should not be the judge, the jury and the executioner.”
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) released the following statement ahead of the protest.
“We are continuing to see an increased number of inmates booked into the Bexar County Jail with severe medical conditions and deadly withdrawal symptoms. We have taken proactive measures, such as instituting ‘Operation Life Guard,’ a wide-scale approach to addressing inmate health and welfare. This plan has seen some success,
As a result of more inmates coming in with chronic conditions, we have become more stringent on who we medically accept into our facility. These prisoners would be much better served in a robust medical facility, rather than what we can offer in the jail.”
The ‘Voices Behind the Cell: Silent Protest and Memorial’ will be held at 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Castillo Funeral Home on General McMullen Drive.