Another Death at Rikers Island: Nine Custody Deaths in 2026

A new death has once again put the spotlight on Rikers Island. The Legal Aid Society reported on Tuesday, November 10, that another inmate died at the complex. With this death, nine people have died in 2026 while in the custody of the New York City Department of Corrections, according to EFE.

What do we know about what happened?

The deceased is César Medero Curet, 36 years old. According to AmNY, cited by EFE, an official found him in his bed. The medical protocol was activated, and he was declared dead after 6 a.m.

He was being held at the Robert N. Davoren Center, awaiting trial. According to local media cited by EFE, he was arrested in March and was charged with attempted murder: allegedly, he hit a person in the subway and tried to push them onto the tracks as a train approached. This is a charge, not a conviction. He had a hearing scheduled for December 16.

What don’t we know?

A lot. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

What are his lawyers asking for, and how is the Department responding?

Legal Aid, which represented him, called for a «rapid, independent, and impartial» investigation. It added: «His family and lawyers deserve answers, and any information about what happened must be shared with them quickly and transparently.» For the organization, the death is a «devastating» reminder of the human cost of the prison system, and it again called for the closure of Rikers.

Stanley Richards, head of the Department of Corrections, expressed his condolences. He said: «The safety and well-being of all who live and work with us will always be our top priority. This great loss affects us all deeply.» EFE reports on Legal Aid’s request for an independent investigation, but it does not indicate that one has been opened.

What about the plan to close Rikers?

Here, there are several concerns that are worth looking at together. One is accountability: that families and lawyers receive clear answers when someone dies in custody. Another is safety, both for the inmates and for those who work there, which the Department itself mentions as a priority.

And then there’s replacement. In October 2019, the City Council voted to replace the complex with four smaller jails. According to EFE, that construction has not yet been completed. Mamdani supports the closure and acknowledges that it is difficult, according to the same agency.

To better understand and follow the case

If you wonder what this means for the city, it’s worth understanding how Rikers is supposed to be closed and what still needs to be done. Here are two previous notes from MundoNow:

• The plan to close Rikers Island in New York
• Mamdani on Rikers Island

For now, the most important thing is to wait and see what the authorities say about the cause of death and whether an independent investigation is opened.

Source: EFE, New York dispatch of November 10, 2026.