Rancho Cucamonga, CA - Mariel Mays, 26, Dies While in Custody of West Valley Detention Center

Rancho Cucamonga, CA (April 19, 2026) - Mariel Mays, a 26-year-old man from Adelanto, died while in the custody of the West Valley Detention Center on April 19, 2026. Mays had been held at the facility since March 24, 2026.

According to available reports, at approximately 4:55 a.m., deputies discovered Mays unresponsive and in medical distress inside the facility. Deputies and medical staff initiated life-saving measures. Personnel from American Medical Response and the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department responded to the scene and continued resuscitation efforts. Despite those efforts, Mays was pronounced dead at the scene.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Specialized Investigations Division — Homicide Detail is investigating the official cause and circumstances of his death. No additional details have been publicly released at this time.

Legal Considerations in Jail Deaths

When a person dies while in the custody of a detention facility, it raises serious questions about the duty of care owed to those held in state custody. Detained individuals retain constitutional rights, and jail facilities are legally obligated to provide adequate medical care and maintain safe conditions.

California law requires law enforcement agencies to report all in-custody deaths under California Government Code § 12525. Independent of that reporting process, families may have civil legal claims if evidence emerges that neglect, inadequate medical care, or unconstitutional conduct contributed to their loved one's death.

Investigations in cases like this often examine factors such as:

• Whether appropriate monitoring and safety checks were conducted in the hours preceding the emergency
• Whether medical staff responded in a timely and adequate manner once distress was identified
• Whether the facility maintained proper protocols for identifying and addressing medical emergencies
• Whether any environmental, procedural, or staffing failures contributed to the outcome

Steps for Families After an In-Custody Death

If you are a family member of Mariel Mays or have information relevant to this case, consider taking the following steps:

• Request all available public records, including jail logs, medical records, incident reports, and any available surveillance footage, under the California Public Records Act
• Preserve any communications, documents, or materials related to Mays's time in custody
• Request a copy of the coroner's findings and autopsy report when available
• Consult with a LA civil rights attorney as soon as possible to understand your rights and to ensure that critical evidence is preserved

Contact Our Los Angeles Civil Rights Attorney

The Law Offices of Christian Contreras represents families of individuals who have died or been seriously harmed while in the custody of jails and detention facilities throughout California, including San Bernardino County. Our team handles civil rights and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis — no upfront costs, no hourly fees.

Call (866) 837-1315 now for a free consultation.

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 detention facility. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.