Inmate, 66, with terminal illness dies at hospital, Sacramento sheriff says

A 66-year-old man held at Sacramento County Main Jail died Monday at a hospital, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Official said.

The inmate, held in jail custody since Sept. 10 for failing to register as a felony sex offender, had been hospitalized since Sept. 24 for what Sheriff’s Office described in a statement as a “pre-existing terminal medical condition.”

Although the man died at a hospital due to the terminal illness, the death is still listed as an “in-custody death,” said sheriff’s officials.

Since 2021, 33 inmates have died in custody at a Sacramento County jail, according to Sacramento Bee reporting.

The Sheriff’s Office said it would be investigating the death. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death and release the man’s name after notifying next of kin.

This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 8:12 AM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.