Family demanding justice for 22-year-old found dead in San Francisco jail
The family of a 22-year-old woman gathered outside San Francisco's Women's Jail, demanding justice for her after she was found dead inside her cell earlier this month.
According to the sheriff's office, Aamonte Hadley was found unresponsive on Sept. 3 and pronounced dead that same day. How exactly Hadley died remains unknown.
"Aamonte matters. She deserved her day in court. She deserved advocacy. She deserved a voice. She deserved to live," said Patrice Bolton, Hadley's Aunt.
The sheriff's office said it is conducting an investigation, but Hadley's family said they want their own independent investigation done.
"We demand justice to the unanswered questions," said Eulisha Hall, Hadley's Cousin.
Before her death, Hadley had been behind bars for close to two years. She was arrested back in September of 2022 in connection to a string of armed robberies.
She was charged with 13 counts of armed robbery and ordered to remain behind bars until her trial.
Hadley's lawyers tried several times to get her diverted into a mental health program but were denied.
Her supporters said those denials contributed to the environment that led to Hadley's death and blamed District Attorney Brooke Jenkins personally for keeping Hadley behind bars.
"I sat in that court hearing, and I watched as the district attorney argued against mental health diversions for Aamonte Hadley. It was a shame. It was terrible," said Diana Block with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.
In a statement, DA Jenkins responded to Hadley's supporters saying in part, "[Hadley] was detained pre-trial because of the public safety risk she posed. The court denied defense counsel's numerous requests for mental health diversion because it was not warranted in this case. Had defense counsel actually worked in their client's best interest and prepared to settle or go to trial sooner, this tragedy may have been avoided. Sadly, we will never know."
The DA went on to offer her condolences to Hadley's family.
But Hadley's family says they are not stopping here. They want accountability for Hadley's death and said they will continue to fight until justice is served.
"This capsule we're in is temporary, but these hearts we carry are forever more, and if you don't know nothing else know that she is loved and we will not stop," said Bolton.