Las Animas County inmate dies after medical emergency at detention center

A 58-year-old Trinidad man died after a medical emergency at the Las Animas County Detention Center, and county officials say the case is now under coroner review as toxicology results are still pending.

John Romero, identified by The Chronicle-News as John Paul Romero, became ill on April 20, 2026, while in custody at the jail at 2309 East Main Street in Trinidad. Detention staff responded and requested EMS, then Romero was transported to Mount San Rafael Hospital in Trinidad, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Las Animas County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy has already been completed. A preliminary examination found no evidence of traumatic injury, but the cause and manner of death have not been determined because toxicology results are still outstanding. The coroner said the office is following standard investigative procedures and coordinating with the appropriate agencies before releasing additional information.

Colorado law requires a coroner investigation when a person dies while in custody, making the Romero case part of the county’s formal medicolegal process. That scrutiny matters in Las Animas County because in-custody deaths test not only medical response but also how quickly detention staff recognize an emergency, call for help and document what happened inside the jail.

Romero’s death also lands against the backdrop of an active criminal case. The Chronicle-News said he had been facing attempted murder charges tied to a shooting earlier this month, adding another layer of public concern around the case and the county justice system. The death does not change the need for a medical finding, but it does raise the stakes for transparency as the investigation continues.

The Las Animas County Sheriff’s Office publicly posts its jail roster, including a roster dated April 20, 2026. Information about inmates in county custody can also be obtained by calling 719-846-2211. For Trinidad and the wider county, the key unanswered questions now rest with the toxicology report, the coroner’s final ruling and what further details investigators decide can be released.