NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 28-year-old man imprisoned at Rikers Island died early Saturday morning, according to the Department of Correction.
The DOC said Erick Tavira’s cause of death is under investigation by the New York City Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, but the New York Post reported anonymous sources said he hanged himself.
Tavira was found dead around 2:16 a.m. in the George R. Vierno Center — a mental health evaluation unit on the island, according to the DOC.
“Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Tavira’s family, friends and loved ones in their time of grief,” said DOC Commissioner Louis Molina in a statement. “We take the health and safety of everyone in our custody seriously, and we are conducting a preliminary investigation into this death.”
Tavira’s is the 17th death of an inmate while in DOC custody or immediately after leaving custody this year and the 33rd over the course of the past two years.
The DOC said in a press release that he is the 15th inmate to die in custody, but that statistic doesn’t take into account two deaths of inmates who were released immediately before their death.
A New York Times report found that Molina had personally sought the release of dying Rikers Island inmates in an apparent attempt to limit the troubled prison’s high death count.
The rising death toll, as well as reports of poor living conditions, chronic absenteeism among staff and unchecked violence at Rikers, have led the Legal Aid Society and elected officials like New York City Comptroller Brad Lander to call for a federal takeover of the prison.
A judge accepted the city’s reform plan instead of appointing a federal receivership to take control of Rikers in June, but the court pledged to revisit the issue in November.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting 'Home' to 741741.
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