Daniel Murphy Dies in Custody at San Diego Central Jail

Daniel Patrick Murphy Was Found Unresponsive in a Shared Cell Just One Day After Being Booked Into San Diego Central Jail

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (October 30, 2026) – A 50-year-old man identified as Daniel Murphy died in custody at San Diego Central Jail in San Diego.

San Diego County officials are saying that the death occurred around 7:33 p.m. on Saturday, September 5. Murphy had been booked into the downtown jail one day earlier after San Diego police arrested him on a warrant tied to drug-related allegations, FOX 5 San Diego reported.

A deputy conducting a routine security check around 7:06 p.m. found Murphy unresponsive inside the cell he shared with another person, according to the Imperial Valley Press. The deputy called for help, and jail medical staff, deputies, and San Diego Fire Department paramedics attempted lifesaving measures.

Daniel Murphy was pronounced dead about 27 minutes after he was found. The Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of his death, and the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board was notified.

Murphy’s death adds to a long record of in-custody deaths in San Diego County’s jails. A 2022 California State Auditor report found that 185 people died in Sheriff’s Department custody from 2006 through 2020 and concluded that the department had failed to adequately prevent and respond to those deaths.

The county recorded 19 custody deaths in 2022 alone, and a later study for the county’s oversight board found that deaths were heavily concentrated at Central Jail and the Vista Detention Facility, NBC 7 San Diego reported.

Questions remain about what medical screening Murphy received at intake and how often his cell was checked during his first day in custody.

Liability for San Diego Central Jail Death in Custody

People held in a county jail before trial are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, which requires jail officials to provide adequate medical care and reasonable safety. Federal courts in California ask whether officials failed to take reasonable steps to address a serious risk that a reasonable officer would have recognized, an objective standard that does not require proof of bad intent. California law adds a separate duty under Government Code section 845.6, which makes jail employees and their agencies responsible when they know or have reason to know that a person needs immediate medical care and fail to summon it. Counties can also face liability when their policies, staffing, or training contribute to a death. Reviews of in-custody deaths often turn on several recurring issues:

• Intake screening: Booking staff and nurses should identify intoxication, withdrawal, and chronic illness before assigning a person to a housing unit.
• Safety checks: Deputies are expected to conduct timely, meaningful checks rather than quick glances that miss signs of distress.
• Medical response: Staff must summon emergency care promptly when someone shows symptoms of overdose or medical crisis.
• Contraband control: Jails are responsible for limiting the flow of drugs into housing units through searches and scanning.
• Recordkeeping: Logs, video, and medical charts show who saw the person and what they observed.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals examined these duties in Sandoval v. County of San Diego in 2021. In that case, a man arrested on a drug charge died of a methamphetamine overdose after jail medical staff left him unmonitored for about eight hours despite signs of distress. The court reversed summary judgment for several nurses, finding that failing to check on him and failing to call paramedics could show objective deliberate indifference. The court also allowed claims against the county to proceed based on its policies and practices. The ruling confirms that jail staff can be held responsible when a detainee in obvious medical danger is left without timely care.

Drug Intoxication Deaths in Local Jails

Drug and alcohol intoxication has become one of the fastest-growing causes of death in American jails. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1,200 people died in local jails in 2019, and drug or alcohol intoxication accounted for 15% of those deaths, up from 4% in 2000. The 184 intoxication deaths recorded that year were the highest in two decades of federal data collection. The rate of these deaths climbed from 6 to 26 per 100,000 people held in jail over the same period. Experts point to several measures that help reduce the risk:

• Medical screening: Thorough intake assessments help staff identify people at risk of overdose or dangerous withdrawal.
• Observation housing: People showing signs of intoxication can be placed where nurses can monitor them closely.
• Naloxone access: Keeping overdose-reversal medication on every housing floor allows staff to respond within minutes.
• Body scanners: Full-body scanning at booking can detect drugs hidden on or inside a person before they reach a cell.
• Cell checks: Frequent direct visual checks that confirm a person is breathing can catch emergencies early.

The first hours and days after booking are often the most dangerous period for people in jail, especially when drugs or untreated health conditions are involved. Every county jail has a responsibility to staff its facilities adequately and to respond quickly when someone is in distress. Independent oversight boards, state auditors, and public reporting all play a role in identifying patterns that internal reviews may miss. When a death occurs, a complete review of video, medical records, and staffing decisions can reveal whether it could have been prevented. Families of people who die in custody have the right to a full accounting and to seek accountability when safeguards fail.

Investigating In-Custody Deaths in San Diego

We at Feher Law extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Daniel Murphy. We hope a thorough and transparent review of his death leads to safer conditions for everyone held at San Diego Central Jail. A death inside a shared cell just one day after booking raises serious safety concerns about jail monitoring and medical care. What did jail staff observe during Murphy’s intake and his first day in custody?

Have you or a loved one been affected by a death or medical emergency in a jail in San Diego or elsewhere in San Diego County? Families are entitled to a full and honest account of what happened to a loved one in government custody. The Sheriff’s Office controls the video, medical charts, and housing logs that show how the final hours unfolded, and early official accounts are often brief. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from booking and medical screening records to cell check logs and surveillance footage. Whether you have questions about your rights or need help understanding your next steps, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.