Prisoner Who Died At Nassau Jail Identified

EAST MEADOW, NY — The prisoner who died at Nassau County Correctional Facility last week has been identified, according to his family.

Although police have not yet released the identity of the prisoner, a GoFundMe page, reportedly created by the family of Santos Edilberto Banegas Reyes, 42, says help is needed to "cover funeral expenses and to bring Santos’s body home to Honduras."

Published reports, and the GoFundMe page, stated that Reyes was a detainee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the correctional facility.

However, an ICE spokesperson told Patch exclusively in an email on Friday that "this individual was not in ICE custody."

A protest was scheduled for Monday evening at the Nassau County Jail.

"We Demand Justice for Saints and All Innocent Immigration" was expected to start at 6 p.m. at the prison entrance.

According to the New York Post, in a partnership with federal officials, Nassau County has designated 50 cells at the jail for ICE detainees; the feds were slated to reimburse the county $195 per detainee, per night, the outlet said.

"There is an ongoing investigation, which will be thorough and transparent, to determine the cause of death. Nassau County takes seriously its obligation to treat every prisoner humanely," said Nassau County Sheriff Anthony LaRocco last week.

Reyes was a father of two children and a Honduran national, according to the GoFundMe description.

"The family is still awaiting answers about the circumstances of his passing," the GoFundMe page said. "At this moment, the family is grieving deeply and asking for help to cover funeral costs and transportation to Honduras, so Santos can be laid to rest in his homeland. Any donation, no matter the size, will make a difference and provide comfort to his children and loved ones. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity, prayers, and support."

The inmate was found unresponsive in his cell on Thursday morning, police said. His body was taken to the county's medical examiner's office.

Additionally, New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, police said.

Reyes' sister took part in a livestream broadcast and said "neither jail nor immigration have communicated with their relatives," according to the livestram, posted on Osman Canales' Facebook page.