Lawsuit Filed for Esophageal Rupture Death in El Paso County, Texas Jail

The family of Vincent Leyva, a 42-year-old man who died in the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility in March 2023, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the county. Court records list Leyva’s cause of death as an esophageal rupture with acute mixed drug toxicity as a contributing factor.

According to the lawsuit, Leyva repeatedly complained of chest pain and breathing difficulties while in custody but was returned to his cell instead of being sent for emergency treatment. His health reportedly worsened until his death.

Attorney Dean Malone, representing the Leyva family, condemned the lack of medical intervention, stating, “There is no need for a man to die from a ruptured esophagus when there are skilled surgeons in El Paso who could have conducted necessary surgery.”

Malone said the case reflects a broader, troubling pattern of neglect and inadequate medical care for detainees in Texas jails — preventable tragedies that persist despite clear warning signs and available medical resources.

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