The family of Juan Miguel Muñoz Peñalver, a 21-year-old Cuban who died while in custody in a Kentucky jail, has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Louisville, accusing the prison and medical staff of failing to act despite the severe deterioration the young man allegedly experienced during his final days.
Muñoz Peñalver died on February 26, just 12 days after being admitted to the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC). His death certificate later determined that he died from acute psychosis due to dehydration, associated with "voluntary/self-imposed refusal of hydration, nutrition, and medical care." The death was officially classified as a suicide.
Now, his stepmother, Ivelipse Muñoz, questions through a federal lawsuit reported by the how it was possible for a young person in custody to reach such an extreme without receiving the care he needed.
"It is a death by dehydration in a first-world country. How is this possible?" questioned Jon Little, the family's lawyer.
He stopped eating, taking his medication, and taking care of himself
The Cuban had arrived in the United States in June 2024 with parole and a work permit for two years and was in the process of applying for permanent residency, according to his family. He worked as a barber and was saving to formally study that trade. His stepmother recalls that he dreamed of becoming a millionaire before turning 30.
In January 2025, he was hospitalized for three weeks at the University of Louisville Hospital and diagnosed with paranoid psychosis, according to his stepmother's account. He later stopped taking medication because he did not believe he was ill.
On February 14 of this year, he was arrested for an assault and other charges. He had not been convicted for those offenses at the time of his death. His stepmother claims that on that day he "was going through one of his episodes."
Two days after entering the prison, he attempted to take his own life using a sheet. Officials intervened and he was placed under monitoring for 24 hours due to suicide risk. He was later to be observed with checks every 30 minutes, according to documents obtained by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.
His condition continued to deteriorate.
The lawsuit filed by the family claims that Muñoz Peñalver stopped taking his medication, dressing himself, and walking on his own, while his cell accumulated garbage, urine, and feces.
On February 23, a professional determined that he was suffering from severe "decompensated psychosis" and was unable to care for himself. The family claims that despite his condition, basic parameters such as his weight, temperature, and food and liquid intake were not properly monitored.
The camera reportedly showed him motionless for over five hours
The records obtained months ago by investigative journalists revealed another element that now takes on special significance.
The images from the camera in his cell showed that around 11:15 p.m. on February 25, Muñoz Peñalver lay down in front of the door and apparently did not move again.
The officials found him unconscious more than five hours later, shortly before 4:30 a.m. He had already passed away.
The documents obtained did not allow for a determination of whether the required 30-minute checks on the young man were carried out during those hours. The prison authorities declined to answer that question while the investigation was ongoing.
The lawsuit filed on September 21 consists of 25 pages and names the metropolitan government of Louisville, the jail director, Jerry Collins, the healthcare provider, and a dozen other unidentified officials and healthcare professionals as defendants. The family claims that those responsible were aware of the young man's deterioration and failed to take the necessary measures to protect him.
There was also a retention order from ICE
When he died, Muñoz Penalver was also under ICE immigration detention.
This type of order requests that jails keep an individual in custody for an additional 48 hours after the time of their scheduled release to allow immigration authorities to take over custody.
In this case, however, court records indicate that Muñoz Peñalver was not close to being released when he passed away, as a judge had set his bail at $20,000 and he was required to appear again before the court precisely on the day of his death.
The tragedy reignited criticism regarding the conditions at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. The ACLU of Kentucky has documented 23 deaths in custody at that jail since 2021, while a previous audit had already identified issues related to staffing, infrastructure, and adherence to basic protocols.
The family had initiated legal actions months earlier. In June, they filed a claim against YesCare, the company that provided medical care in the jail when the young man died and which subsequently went bankrupt.
After his passing, family and friends also launched a campaign on GoFundMe to help cover Juan Miguel's funeral and memorial expenses.
During the fundraiser, his family remembered him as a beloved young man who had come to the United States seeking to build a new life. The campaign aimed to alleviate the unexpected expenses left by his death and allow his loved ones to say their goodbyes.
For Ivelipse, the lawsuit now seeks answers about what happened during the last days of her stepson in custody.
"Juan Miguel —Miguel, as many knew him— was a young man with dreams, plans, and a future ahead," he wrote.
"Yes, he had mental health issues, but that never diminished the value of his life."
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