BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – Thirteen people died inside the Bexar County jail in 2024, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
That number is down from 18 deaths in 2024.
Jail safety has been an issue that Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar has faced, and families of inmates raised concerns after three people died inside the jail within 15 days.
In October, Salazar told Bexar County commissioners that the county’s adult detention center is over capacity.
That same month, Salazar implemented a policy meant to lower the number of jail deaths. The new policy allows suspects with certain medical conditions to be rejected from jail.
However, several local law enforcement agencies said the new directive put public safety at risk.
Here’s a look at the deaths inside the Bexar County jail in 2024.
March
- Jesus Gonzales, 19. Gonzales died by suicide in the Bexar County Jail on March 3, according to Salazar. Body camera footage obtained by KSAT Investigates shows officers failed to pat the teen down when taking him into custody. San Antonio police fired Officer Abdiel Munoz in August after an internal affairs investigation determined he neglected his duty and demonstrated acts of incompetency.
April
- Duane Ventimiglia, 40. BCSO deputies found Ventimiglia unresponsive in his cell on April 18. Records show Ventimiglia was arrested on April 13 and charged with criminal trespassing. His $1,000 bond was dropped to $25 on April 17.
- Francisco Salinas, 41. Salinas died on April 19 after he was believed to have suffered from a medical episode “compounded by withdrawal symptoms,” BCSO said. Salinas was detained by BCSO on April 16 on a charge of assault causing bodily injury to a spouse. His bond was set at $2,500, according to court records.
June
- Juan Moreno-Hernandez, 36. Moreno-Hernandez died on June 15 after a medical episode, according to BCSO. Authorities believe Moreno-Hernandez and another inmate, who survived, took an unidentified substance. Medical staff administered Narcan to both unresponsive inmates, BCSO said. Moreno-Hernandez was booked in November 2023 on charges of possession of a controlled substance 1g-4g and illegal entry.
July
- Michael Rosas, 46. BCSO said a deputy found Rosas dead in his cell on July 29 during observation checks. Deputies believe he suffered a medical episode. Rosas was arrested by SAPD on July 28 and charged with possession of a controlled substance 1g-4g and evading arrest/detention, second offense.
August
- Jose Barrera, 62. Barrera was killed on Aug. 13 in the Bexar County Jail the same day he was booked for violation of annual sex offender registry, according to BCSO. Anthony Chase McGruder, 28, is charged with murder in connection with his death, online court records show. A psych evaluation was ordered and a grand jury indicted McGruder in November 2024.
- Michael Shane Zoch, 32. BCSO said Zoch died at the jail on Aug. 14. He was arrested on July 11 for violating his parole.
September
- Paul Anthony Sarabia, 50. Sarabia died on Sept. 6 after suffering from a medical episode stemming from withdrawal symptoms, authorities said. BCSO said he was taken to the hospital. Sarabia was arrested on Sept. 1, according to online records.
- Andrea Nicole Garcia, 31. After suffering a medical episode stemming from detoxing conditions, BCSO said Garcia died on Sept. 22. She was booked into jail two days before on a warrant for theft over $1,500, two or more previous convictions, and failure to Identify.
- Bobby Aguilar, 43. BCSO said Aguilar was found dead in his jail cell on Sept. 29. BCSO said it appeared he had a medical episode. Aguilar was arrested by SAPD in March and was jailed on multiple charges, records show.
October
- Roxanne E. Otero, 48. According to a preliminary report, Otero experienced a medical episode “exacerbated by her detoxing conditions.” Otero died on Oct.10, three days after being booked on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.
November
- Desirae Eagle, 27. Eagle died one week after trying to kill herself, according to BCSO. She was pronounced dead on Nov. 3, nearly five months after being booked on charges of assault bodily injury and harassment of a public servant.
- Marcus Joseph Fontenette, 46. Fontenette died on Nov. 13 after being found unresponsive in his cell, said BCSO. He was charged with violation of a criminal trespass warrant one day before his death.
Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.
