Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Family Files Lawsuit After Teen Dies In Rikers Solitary
By
Lauren Evans
Published Aug 18, 2014
Modified Aug 18, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Lauren Evans
Published Aug 18, 2014
Modified Aug 18, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The family of a teenager who died during a stint in solitary confinement on Rikers Island is suing the company responsible for supplying medical care to inmates.
Andy Henriquez was 19 when he perished in his cell from a tear in his aorta in April 2013, DNAinfo reports. The teen, who first entered Rikers when he was 16 on charges of murder and gang assault, began complaining of chest pain in 2012. He was diagnosed with costochondritis—inflamation in or around the ribs—shortly thereafter, though according the suit, the jail's clinic failed order a cardiac exam or other testing that might have revealed the arterial tear.
“He used to say ‘I don’t feel right, my chest hurts, I feel like I can’t breathe,'" said Rikers inmate Jesus Ramos during a deposition. "I used to scream—bend down from under my door, scream under my door, ‘CO, CO, 5 cell needs medical attention.'"
Henriquez was treated at the jail's clinic the night before his death, and was given an anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxer and, later that evening, a "hand cream" that was prescribed to a different name. The news site reports that correction officers were supposed to check on Henriquez's section every 15 minutes, but guards admit that they did not, nor did they hear any calls for help.
But another inmate, Ernest Madison, said during a deposition that officers did in fact hear Henriquez's screams for help, and simply chose to ignore him.
“...they said, ‘Look, we took you yesterday. The doctor said you’re fine,'” Madison said.
Henriquez's mother is now suing Corizon, the company responsible for providing inmate's medical care. Despite taking in $1.2 billion in revenue, Corizon is facing lawsuits from more than two dozen New Yorkers accusing the provider of negligence.
"We get calls complaining about access to medical care and inadequate medical care on a weekly basis," said Mary Lynne Werlwas, an attorney at The Legal Aid Society's Prisoners Rights Project. "We're not a fan of the way they've been doing their job...and there's just been egregious health care."
Tagged
Andy Henriquez
rikers death
Rikers Island
solitary confinement
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
2 men accused of stabbing off-duty NYPD detective in the Bronx plead not guilty
Sneider Mejia and D’Angelo Caraballo are both facing several charges, including attempted first-degree murder.
By
Charles Lane
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 2:40 p.m. ET
Man who pushed his baby and her mother from a Bronx balcony arraigned from psych ward
Angel Carrasco, who shoved his infant daughter and her mother from a 15th floor balcony, appeared virtually in Bronx criminal court.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Man who pushed his baby and her mother from a Bronx balcony arraigned from psych ward
Angel Carrasco, who shoved his infant daughter and her mother from a 15th floor balcony, appeared virtually in Bronx criminal court.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NYC looks to grow involvement in Open Streets as applications open for 2027
By
Catalina Gonella
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
By
Rosemary Misdary
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .