The Legal Aid Society is mourning the loss of client Julian Pagan, who died while in the custody of the Department of Correction.

“We are heartbroken by the death of our client, Julian Pagan. Only hours before his death, he was in court with me. He was alert, engaged, and showed no signs that he was experiencing a medical emergency,” said Samantha Brugger, Mr. Pagan’s attorney with the Bronx Trial Office at Legal Aid.

“Upon learning that he would be returned to Rikers Island, Mr. Pagan spoke with his father in what would become one of their final conversations,” she continued. “His father told him to ‘hang in there’ and reminded him that he loved him. The prospect of returning to Rikers deeply distressed Mr. Pagan.”

“Mr. Pagan’s family deserves answers,” said Brugger. “No family should be left to learn that a loved one entered the City’s custody alive only to be told hours later that he had died. The City must provide a full and transparent accounting of what happened to Mr. Pagan while he was in its custody, and it must do so without delay.”