Fernando Martinez Jr.
- Age: 33
- Name of Jail: Clark County Detention Center
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Cause of Death*: Hypertensive cardiovascular disease; also lost 64 lbs in 73 days, indicating starvation
- Incarceration Type: TK
- Private Company: Wellpath (formerly Correct Care Solutions)
- Incarceration Duration: About two and a half months
- Date of Death: February 14, 2023
Fernando Martinez Jr. was a 33-year-old resident of Clark County, Nevada. He lived with schizophrenia, psychosis, paranoia and depression. He was arrested on December 3, 2022, on charges of making terrorist threats and was placed in a medical psychiatric unit at the Clark County Detention Center. While incarcerated, Martinez Jr. became paranoid about his food being poisoned and would sometimes self-induce vomitting after eating, which according to the lawsuit was known to jail staff. According to the lawsuit, Martinez Jr. “slowly and painfully starved to death.” Martinez Jr. died on February 14, 2023. An autopsy found the cause of death to be hypertensive cardiovascular disease and also cited renal failure, hypernatremic dehydration, and unspecified psychosis. The lawsuit noted, however that the “autopsy report showed the cardiovascular system to be unremarkable” and that he had lost 64 pounds in 73 days.
Attorney Peter Goldstein, representing Sonia Esparza