This site discusses deaths, including deaths ruled suicides. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, U.S.).

← All cases
Contested death (2000 to present)

Wakiesha Wilson

Ruled suicide, disputedMar 27, 2016 · Age 36 · Los Angeles, CA

Who Wakiesha was

Wakiesha was 36 and the mother of a 13-year-old son. The morning she died, she'd told her mother she'd see the family at her court date that Tuesday, and her cousin said Wakiesha planned to come home with her.

In the words of those who knew them

  • “No, she had too much to live for”Her mother, Lisa Hines · source

What happened

Wakiesha Wilson was arrested in Los Angeles early on March 26, 2016, on suspicion of battery and held at the LAPD's Metropolitan Detention Center. On the morning of March 27, Easter Sunday, she called her mother, said she'd see the family at court that Tuesday and promised to call again that night. The call never came. Police say she was found in her cell that day.

Wakiesha's family didn't learn of her death from the department. When she didn't appear in court, they started asking, and on Wednesday they were given a number for the coroner's office. Coroner's officials ruled it a suicide. Her mother, Lisa Hines, said she didn't believe it, and the family's attorney said there'd been a disagreement with an officer before her death. Organizers asked for surveillance video and cell logs.

In January 2017 the Los Angeles Police Commission found no force was used. Prosecutors declined to file charges. In December 2017 the City Council approved a settlement of about $298,000 for her son and mother. The official finding stands, and her family still rejects it.

The case

Where found
Her cell at the Los Angeles Police Department's Metropolitan Detention Center
Official finding
Suicide (Los Angeles County coroner's officials, as reported by ABC7, April 2016). In January 2017 the Los Angeles Police Commission found no force was used and that jail officers had no role in her death.
Time to finding
About a week to the coroner's finding; about 10 months to the Police Commission finding (Jan 31, 2017).
Investigation
LAPD investigated the in-custody death and the Police Commission reviewed it. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges, per NewsOne. The family requested surveillance video and cell log books. In December 2017 the Los Angeles City Council voted 13-0 to settle two lawsuits brought by her son and mother.
Family position
Her mother, Lisa Hines, rejects the suicide finding. After the commission's ruling she shouted, "They killed my baby!" The family also objected that LAPD never notified them of her death; they learned of it days later.
Public evidence
Police said she was arrested around 1 a.m. on March 26, 2016, on suspicion of battery and was expected to be released after a court date on March 29. She called her mother the morning of March 27 and said she'd call again that night. The family's attorney said there'd been some kind of disagreement with a detention officer. Organizers disputed the police account of where she was found in the cell.
Federal review
None reported
Last verified
2026-10-24
Verification note: Settlement figure: the NewsOne article text says $298,000, while its headline URL says $300,000. Place of death: LAist says she died at a hospital; ABC7 says she died in her cell.

Sources

Record history

  1. Oct 24, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Wakiesha Wilson
    • Age: 36
    • Date found: 2016-03-27
    • City or county: Los Angeles
    • State: CA
    • Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
    • Where found: Her cell at the Los Angeles Police Department's Metropolitan Detention Center
    • Official finding: Suicide (Los Angeles County coroner's officials, as reported by ABC7, April 2016). In January 2017 the Los Angeles Police Commission found no force was used and that jail officers had no role in her death.
    • Time to finding: About a week to the coroner's finding; about 10 months to the Police Commission finding (Jan 31, 2017).
    • Investigation: LAPD investigated the in-custody death and the Police Commission reviewed it. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges, per NewsOne. The family requested surveillance video and cell log books. In December 2017 the Los Angeles City Council voted 13-0 to settle two lawsuits brought by her son and mother.
    • Family position: Her mother, Lisa Hines, rejects the suicide finding. After the commission's ruling she shouted, "They killed my baby!" The family also objected that LAPD never notified them of her death; they learned of it days later.
    • Public evidence: Police said she was arrested around 1 a.m. on March 26, 2016, on suspicion of battery and was expected to be released after a court date on March 29. She called her mother the morning of March 27 and said she'd call again that night. The family's attorney said there'd been some kind of disagreement with a detention officer. Organizers disputed the police account of where she was found in the cell.
    • Federal review: None reported
    • Verification note: Settlement figure: the NewsOne article text says $298,000, while its headline URL says $300,000. Place of death: LAist says she died at a hospital; ABC7 says she died in her cell.
    • Sources updated
Wakiesha Wilson, Los Angeles, CA · Found Hanging: Case Tracker