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Rikers detainee's death is at least the 9th in corrections department custody this year
By
Ryan Kost
Published Nov 10, 2026 at 3:58 p.m. ET
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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Ryan Kost
Published Nov 10, 2026 at 3:58 p.m. ET
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A 36-year-old man died on Rikers Island early Tuesday, according to the city’s Department of Correction.
A correction officer found the man in his bed at the Robert N. Davoren Center, according to the department. Staff called a medical emergency and he was pronounced dead just after 6 a.m. The department did not release a cause of death.
The department and court records identified the man as Cesar Mederocuret, though the Legal Aid Society, which represented him, identified him as Cesar Gabriel Medero Curet in a statement. Gothamist has reached out to the group and city officials for clarification.
He is at least the ninth person to die in the department’s custody this year and at least the second man to die in that particular facility. He had pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted second-degree murder, attempted first-degree assault and third-degree assault.
Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards said in a statement that “this profound loss weighs heavily on us all.”
The department said it will investigate the man’s death in coordination with city and state authorities.
The department said it had notified the court-appointed officials who are overseeing reforms on the island, as well as other state and local officials.
The Legal Aid Society said in its statement it had no information about the circumstances of the man’s death or what happened in his final moments. The group called for a swift, independent and impartial investigation into his death.
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new york city
public safety
Ryan Kost
Ryan Kost is a reporter on the day-of news desk, where he covers breaking news and writes enterprise stories about jails, courts, prosecutors and government accountability. His work focuses on the public institutions that shape life in New York. Before joining the newsroom, he lead a multi-part investigation with Columbia Journalism Investigations and New York Focus into how New York prosecutors handle wrongful conviction claims. He's also been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle, The Associated Press and The Oregonian. Got a tip? Signal: ryankost.20
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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