Martinez, CA - Patrick Robert Smith, 40, of San Rafael Dies in Custody at Martinez Detention Facility

Martinez, California (June 25, 2026) - Patrick Robert Smith, a 40-year-old man from San Rafael, died in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility on June 25, 2026, just one day after he was booked into the facility, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.

At around 9:00 a.m. on June 25, a deputy found Smith unresponsive in a room in the jail's intake area. Deputies performed life-saving measures. The fire department and an ambulance also responded, but Smith was pronounced dead.

Both the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office are investigating the incident.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

A person dying inside a jail facility within hours of booking leaves questions that his family deserves answered, not just from an internal review, but through independent investigation.

What Families Should Know After an In-Custody Death in California

When someone dies in a county jail, the family is often left with little information and no clear path forward. These are the steps that matter most in the early days.

Can the family pursue a civil rights claim?

Yes. When an in-custody death results from unconstitutional conduct, negligence, or inadequate medical care, the family may have claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. That statute allows civil lawsuits against government actors who violate a person's constitutional rights under color of law.

What should the family do now?

• Request an independent autopsy before the body is released. The family has the right to commission one, and it may produce findings that differ from the county's account.
• Submit a California Public Records Act request for medical logs, intake screening records, emergency response records, and any available surveillance footage from the intake area.
• Do not sign any documents from the detention facility or the county. Releases or waivers can limit the family's legal options.
• Do not accept the facility's account as the final word. Initial institutional statements frequently change once independent investigation begins.

What is the filing deadline?

California's Government Claims Act requires notice of a claim against a public entity within six months of the date of death (Gov. Code § 911.2). For Patrick Robert Smith's family, that deadline falls on December 25, 2026. Missing it can bar state tort claims entirely. Federal civil rights claims under § 1983 carry a two-year deadline running to June 25, 2028, but waiting does not preserve evidence.

Contact Our California In-Custody Death Attorneys

Families in this situation are rarely given the full picture up front. What they typically receive is a phone call, a minimal explanation, and a request to claim the body. The questions about what happened in that intake room, who responded, and whether the response met any standard of care, those do not answer themselves.

Our California in-custody death attorneys have recovered more than $200M for clients, including multiple seven-figure recoveries against government agencies in cases where a facility's initial account did not hold up under scrutiny.

Surveillance footage in county jails overwrites fast. The window to demand its preservation is measured in days.

There are no upfront costs. The firm works on contingency, so you owe nothing unless we recover for you.

Why Injured Clients Trust Christian Contreras Law

• $200M+ recovered for clients
• More than $30M recovered in 2025 alone
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Speak With a California In-Custody Death Attorney at (866) 836-6588

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.