County In Utah Pays $144k To Family Of Inmate Who Starved

Salt Lake County is paying $144,000 to settle a federal lawsuit with the family of a 19-year-old Magna man who starved to death last year in the county’s jail.

District Attorney Sam Gill disclosed the amount to be paid to the family of Carlos Umana, whose weight dropped from 175 pounds to 77 during his four months in jail. He died Feb. 27.

The family’s suit claimed jailers acted with “deliberate indifference” by failing to ensure Umana was eating and taking mental health medications.

Umana was being held on an attempted murder charge. The suit claims Umana had stopped eating because he feared he was being poisoned.

Sheriff’s officials say the jail has changed some policies found to be factors in Umana’s death and is evaluating others.