Found unresponsive while awaiting trial: a Bakersfield woman held on a misdemeanor case died at the Lerdo jail

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (September 14, 2026): Kristina Michelle Riley, a 42-year-old Bakersfield resident, died Monday while in the custody of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility, according to sheriff’s office records and the Kern County Coroner’s Office, as reported by BakersfieldNow (KBAK/KBFX). The coroner’s report said Riley was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the facility.

Riley was awaiting trial at the time of her death, according to the sheriff’s office website. Kern County Superior Court records show a misdemeanor charge was filed against her on August 4, BakersfieldNow reported. The circumstances that led up to her being found unresponsive have not been publicly described.

The coroner’s office conducted an autopsy, and the results are pending further studies, according to the report. The cause and manner of Riley’s death have not been released. BakersfieldNow noted that the sheriff’s office had reported several earlier in-custody deaths in Kern County in 2026.

Liability for Kern County Jail Deaths

People held before trial have not been convicted of the charge against them, and the Constitution protects their right to reasonable medical care and safety. In the Ninth Circuit, claims on behalf of pretrial detainees are evaluated under the Fourteenth Amendment using an objective deliberate indifference standard, and they are brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. California law adds Government Code § 845.6, which can make a public entity and its employees liable when they know, or have reason to know, that a person in custody needs immediate medical care and fail to take reasonable action to summon it.

  • Cell checks: Jails are required to conduct regular safety checks. When and how often staff checked on a person before they were found unresponsive is a key record.
  • Intake screening: Booking medical and mental health screening determines whether risks such as withdrawal, illness or medication needs were identified and addressed.
  • Medical response: The speed of the emergency response and the care given once a person was found are examined closely.
  • Housing and supervision: Where a person was housed and how they were supervised can show whether known risks were managed.

California agencies must report deaths in custody to the state, and the autopsy, toxicology and internal review records often become central to understanding what happened. Those records are not always shared with families automatically.

Steps to Take After a Kern County Jail Death

Families often learn very little in the first days after a death in custody, and early requests for records can make an important difference.

  • Request the coroner’s findings: Ask the Kern County Coroner’s Office for the autopsy and toxicology results once they are final.
  • Preserve jail records: Housing logs, safety check records, medical charts and video can be requested and should be preserved.
  • Document communications: Keep notes of every call and letter from the sheriff’s office, the jail and the coroner.
  • Gather personal records: Prior medical history and prescriptions can help show what care the person needed while in custody.

A claim against a California public entity generally must be presented within six months of the death under Government Code § 911.2, before a state-law lawsuit can be filed. Federal civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 generally borrow California’s two-year limit in Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.

Investigating Kern County Jail Deaths

We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Kristina Michelle Riley. When was she last checked on before she was found unresponsive at the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility? Did her booking screening identify any medical needs, and how were they addressed while she waited for trial on a misdemeanor case?

If a loved one died or was seriously injured while in custody anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.