London Marquez Died In Chicago Police Custody At 11th Police District

Wrongful Death - March 16, 2022

London Marquez Died In Police Custody At 11th Police District In Chicago

COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS (March 16, 2022) – A pregnant woman identified as London Marquez has tragically died in Chicago police custody at the 11th Police District.

Cook county officials are saying that the incident took place on January 27th. London Marquez was in police custody and died under uncertain conditions.

This is the second time in just a matter of weeks that someone has died in custody at the Chicago Police Department. A 33-year-old woman also died while in custody.

Her family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Chicago police department. Family members of London Marquez have been left in the dark and are pleading to get answers about what happened.

Marcus Marquez, the victim’s sibling, said that she was 7-months-pregnant when she died. Latoyia Marquez was part of a prayer circle on Sunday outside of the 11th District Office.

Marcus Marquez said that they have received no information about where, when or how their sister died. Family members said that they plan to have an independent autopsy performed.

Liability In Chicago Police Department In-Custody Deaths

Sadly, thousands of people die every year in police custody. Around 80 – 100 people die in custody in Illinois. According to one report in the New England Journal of Medicine, “The rates [of death] were higher among non-Hispanic blacks (0.6 per 100,000 population) and Hispanics (0.3 per 100,000) than among non-Hispanic whites (0.1 per 100,000).” Many in custody deaths were proceeded by mental health problems or intimate partner violence. There are a number of steps that police departments should take in order to help prevent in-custody deaths.

• Suspects should be thoroughly checked before being checked in. Many inmates died from taking illicit drugs while in custody and then not receiving adequate care.
• Police department staff should properly monitor inmates to ensure they are safe and healthy.
• Jail staff should promptly give inmates medical care if they are showing signs of medical distress.

Depending on the facts of any case, a Chicago police department could be liable if a person died in-custody. All police departments in Illinois have a constitutional obligation to provide inmates with a safe environment and reasonably adequate healthcare. They must not be deliberately indifferent to the serous medical needs of the people in their care. Deliberate indifference is a deprivation of their right to due process and equal protection under the Fourth Amendment of the constitution. Medical neglect within a jail could manifest in a number of ways.

• A jail or police department could fail to protect suicide-risk inmates.
• A jail or police department could fail to provide required mental health care.
• A jail or police department may fail to administer an inmates required medication.
• A jail or police department may fail to protect inmates who are going through drug withdrawal.
• A jail or police department may fail to treat inmates who are experiencing a drug overdose.

The family of any person that dies in-custody may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and loss of love. It is extremely important that evidence is preserved after an accident. Sadly, though, police departments will often fight hard to keep information from the public and deny accountability for a suspect’s death. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Chicago Police In-Custody Death

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of London Marquez. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to independent investigators. The Chicago Police Department needs to do the right thing and be totally transparent about what happened. They are actively compounding this family’s grief by failing to disclose what took place.

Do you need more information about an in-custody death in Chicago? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any legal questions that you may have. We care deeply that victims and their families get the information and resources that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding a suspect’s death we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.