An inmate found dead of an apparent suicide in his San Francisco jail cell last month has been identified by the medical examiner’s office as 48-year-old Valentin Georgiev, who was being held in connection with a hate crime attack in the city.
Georgiev was found dead at about 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 4 at the jail at the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St., sheriff’s spokeswoman Eileen Hirst said.
He was discovered while breakfast was being distributed to the inmates, Hirst said.
Georgiev was being held on charges of assault with a force likely to cause great bodily injury with a hate crime enhancement, according to Hirst.
Spokespeople for the Police Department and district attorney’s office did not immediately have more information about the attack.
He was also on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold, Hirst said.
The medical examiner’s office did not release Georgiev’s name for weeks after the death because they were unable to reach his next of kin, who lived out of the U.S.
Georgiev’s death remains under investigation by the sheriff’s department, medical examiner’s office and the Police Department’s homicide unit.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here’s why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.
