Rikers Custody Detainee Dies After Medical Episode at NYC Jails, Officials Say
A 38-year-old man, Edwin Ramos, died overnight while in custody at the Rikers Island jails following a medical episode. The incident occurred around 12:05 a.m. when a guard discovered Ramos in distress in a bathroom at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center and provided him with aid. He was subsequently taken to the Rikers clinic before being transported to a nearby hospital.
Ramos had been awaiting a plea deal on an attempted burglary charge from August, which he faced for an incident that occurred in Brooklyn in July. The Legal Aid Society, his representation, reported that Ramos' father learned of his son's death while attending court, whereas his counsel was informed through the press, sparking criticism from the organization.
The Department of Correction, led by Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, has issued a statement expressing their "deepest sympathies" to Ramos' loved ones and emphasizing that the care of all facility residents is their top priority. This marks the 13th detainee death at Rikers this year, surpassing the number of fatalities for the entire previous year.
An investigation into Ramos' death has been launched by authorities, who will also report the incident as required. The Legal Aid Society has called on officials to disclose details about his death to family members, loved ones, and counsel, labeling the situation "disgraceful" and "unacceptable".
A 38-year-old man, Edwin Ramos, died overnight while in custody at the Rikers Island jails following a medical episode. The incident occurred around 12:05 a.m. when a guard discovered Ramos in distress in a bathroom at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center and provided him with aid. He was subsequently taken to the Rikers clinic before being transported to a nearby hospital.
Ramos had been awaiting a plea deal on an attempted burglary charge from August, which he faced for an incident that occurred in Brooklyn in July. The Legal Aid Society, his representation, reported that Ramos' father learned of his son's death while attending court, whereas his counsel was informed through the press, sparking criticism from the organization.
The Department of Correction, led by Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie, has issued a statement expressing their "deepest sympathies" to Ramos' loved ones and emphasizing that the care of all facility residents is their top priority. This marks the 13th detainee death at Rikers this year, surpassing the number of fatalities for the entire previous year.
An investigation into Ramos' death has been launched by authorities, who will also report the incident as required. The Legal Aid Society has called on officials to disclose details about his death to family members, loved ones, and counsel, labeling the situation "disgraceful" and "unacceptable".
another one bites the dust at Rikers... 38 years young, who gets to live that long in a place designed for punishment? 
The system's got some serious issues, but I guess this is just another way of saying 'we're doing everything right' 
. And can we talk about how the Legal Aid Society is getting played here? 
Their rep getting info through the press while his dad finds out at court is just shady. Maybe they should've done what everyone else does in crisis situations... apologize and release deets to loved ones ASAP 
. 13 detentions this year already, it's like Rikers is trying to set a new record for 'worst place to get arrested' 
, like how many people gotta die in these places? 13 this year already? That's insane! And what's up with all these deaths happening when they're supposed to be waiting for some kinda plea deal or trial? It feels like nobody really cares about the ppl who are stuck in there unless somethin' bad happens. The Legal Aid Society is right tho, it's time for officials to come clean about what went down and give the fam some answers. This whole thing just reeks of neglect 
what's goin on over there?? like 13 deaths already and it's only feb lol how many more gotta die before somethin changes?? 
the fact that his dad found out while he was in court is straight up cruel, should be family first, not court 
anyway, hopefully they get to the bottom of this and actually do somethin about it 
this is just heartbreaking another life lost behind bars it's crazy how many ppl are dyin at rikers this yr 13 is a lot & its not like they're even gettin help out there 
. Ramos' dad found out thru court, that's wild imagine the shock he must've gotten 
. Legal aid's all right to be mad tho, it's unfair they had to find out thru press instead of gettin straight info from officials. hopefully the investigation gets to the bottom of this & changes some things at rikers 
this dude just died after a medical episode in a bathroom lol what kinda care is that?? they shouldve had better trained staff on site 24/7 no way the dept of correction can be serious about their "top priority" claim after another detainee dies under their watch 
, this is just getting out of hand 
And they're still saying their top priority is facility care, but really it sounds like a whole lot more than that to me 
. What about the mental health support, medical care, and overall living conditions? We can't just gloss over these issues and expect everything to magically get better 
? I mean, come on, we've had these systemic problems for years and now someone dies and suddenly everyone's all like "oh, let's launch an investigation" 
. Meanwhile, the real questions still remain unanswered 
13 deaths already this year at Rikers is just heartbreaking 
I hope authorities take this seriously & make sure justice is served 
. It's imperative that we prioritize the well-being of individuals behind bars, ensuring they receive adequate medical attention and care, lest we perpetuate a cycle of tragedy and despair 
. The Legal Aid Society is right, its only fair they should be told ASAP. I hope they get to the bottom of this and find out what went wrong.
. Losing someone loved ones due to a system failing them is just heartbreaking. We need to make sure these kinds of things don't happen in the future 
. Legal Aid Society's right 2 know whats happenin 2 their client 
. need some serious change @ Rikers & the whole corrections system 
another life lost in our system. it's so unfair that edwin had to go through all that before being able to get some help. his dad must be beside himself with grief. why does it have to come to a tragic end like this? 
And I know the DOC is sayin' all the right things about prioritizin' care for detainees but... like, 13 deaths this year already? 