Family Seeks Inquiry Into Man’s Death in Mexican Jail

For the second time in 10 months, a Los Angeles man has died under suspicious circumstances in a Mexican jail, and family members and a human rights advocate are blaming local police.

Raul Langarica, 42, a South-Central Los Angeles house painter, died in a Guadalajara municipal jail on or about April 14, shortly after his arrest. He had recently won more than $8,500 in a contest from a Spanish-language newspaper in Los Angeles and had gone to Guadalajara, his hometown, to celebrate and visit friends.

“What a sorry end to that bit of good luck,” said Los Angeles-based human rights advocate Javier Rodriguez. “It was his ticket to meeting death at the hands of the Mexican police.”

Little is known about how Langarica died or why he was arrested. Mexican and U.S. authorities would not comment on the results of an autopsy performed by the Mexican government shortly after his death.

“The consulate in Guadalajara is investigating the situation, and the U.S. Embassy is as well,” said duty officer Steven Coats in the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

Authorities in Mexico and Los Angeles stressed that they have no evidence to suggest wrongdoing by local police or by state of Jalisco judicial police.

According to one U.S. consular official, Langarica was jailed on suspicion of homicide, began fighting with a cellmate and died while police were trying to restrain him.

“That’s the police story,” said the diplomat, who asked not to be identified.

Miguel Escobar, spokesman for the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, said he expects a detailed report from state and local authorities in Guadalajara.

The Langarica family and human rights advocates said Guadalajara authorities have offered several different, and conflicting, stories about how Langarica died.

Guillermina Langarica said her uncle suffered a massive wound to the forehead, a severely broken nose and many bruises.

In a recent report to Congress, the State Department said human rights abuses by the Mexican police continue to be a major problem.

On July 6, Mario Amado of North Hollywood was found dead in a Rosarito jail, and the police said he had committed suicide. Amado’s family insisted on having independent autopsies done, which indicated that he was killed.

As in the Amado case, Langarica’s family is insisting that an independent autopsy be done in the United States.