Birmingham City Inmate Donald Sinclair Dies in a Hospital
In Alabama news out of Birmingham dated October 21, 2025, an inmate identified by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office died in a hospital after experiencing a health crisis.
On October 13, 2025, Donald Sinclair, 60, was an inmate in Birmingham City Jail when jail officers discovered him disoriented and suffering a medical episode in his cell. Mr. Sinclair was taken to UAB Hospital. He remained there until he was pronounced deceased on October 17, 2025.
The cause of Mr. Sinclair’s death has not been disclosed by the Jefferson County Coroner. The case remains under investigation.
The address of the Birmingham City Jail is 425 6th Ave S, Birmingham, Alabama 35205. The jail has an average inmate population of 150-200.
The address of UAB Hospital is 1802 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233.
An Inmate Dies of Acute Peritonitis
In March 27, 2025, California news, Caprice Fowler, 57, was arrested on March 19, 2025, and was housed in a multiple-occupancy cell in the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Barbara County. She was discovered unresponsive in her cell at approximately 5:30 p.m. on her sixth day of incarceration.
Ms. Fowler was in a four-person cell, and another inmate was being escorted back to the cell by jail staff when she was found. Jail deputies and medical staff immediately initiated lifesaving measures. AMR personnel were contacted, and they took over lifesaving efforts when they arrived. Sadly, they were unable to resuscitate Ms. Fowler, and she was pronounced deceased on March 24, 2025.
The results of an autopsy revealed that the cause of Caprice Fowler’s death was determined to be acute peritonitis due to a ruptured gastric ulcer.
The address of the Northern Branch Jail in the Santa Barbara County Jail system is 2301 Black Road, Santa Maria, California 93455. The jail has a bed capacity of 376.
Why is an Inmate Death by Acute Peritonitis a Red Flag?
The disturbing reality about medical care for inmates with chronic health problems in city and county jails is that almost 70% are denied medical care for the duration of their time behind bars. When inmates have dire illnesses that compel them to beg to go to a hospital, jail staff will ignore them, saying they are “faking it.”
At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., we have seen that scenario too many times. Frequently, it will turn out that the inmate dies from a very painful and obviously serious condition. When an inmate dies from sepsis or an infection such as acute peritonitis, we recognize that a real tragedy has occurred. Although coroners may determine that such deaths are by natural causes, evidence may show that the denial of medical care actually led to some such deaths.
Inmate deaths resulting from acute peritonitis caused by a ruptured gastric ulcer were likely preventable. In jails, inmates do not have the option to go directly to a hospital when they suffer serious pain and illness. In general, however, prompt administration of antibiotics can help to prevent such deaths if they receive the necessary emergency surgery, as well.
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