Cause of death released for inmate who died at SLO County Jail
Fentanyl caused an inmate’s death at the San Luis Obispo County Jail last month, the Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday.
Trenidad Castilleja, 48, died due to “the toxic effects of fentanyl,” on March 14, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The Coroner’s Unit said hypertensive cardiovascular disease was a “significant contributing condition” to Castilleja’s death, the release said.
The Sheriff’s Office is investigating how Castilleja accessed fentanyl while in the jail.
“Fentanyl is an extremely potent substance, even in very small amounts,” the release said. “In its pure form, it is odorless and tasteless, making it impossible to identify through human senses alone. These characteristics make it particularly hazardous and difficult to detect.”
Jail staff found Castilleja in medical distress as medication was being dispensed at the jail. Custody and nursing staff performed CPR and offered medical aid until paramedics arrived, but Castilleja was pronounced deceased by paramedics at 8:59 p.m.
The death was ruled an accident, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Castilleja was arrested by police on Dec. 12, 2024, and has been in custody due to three separate cases, two of which were resolved, according to a previous release.
Castilleja was pending sentencing on the third case at the time of his death, the Sheriff’s Office said. He had a history of being booked into the jail “with more than 24 such occurrences” since 1998, the previous release said.
