STE. GENEVIEVE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released a report on the death of an ICE detainee Leo Cruz Silva, a Mexican national, who perished in the Ste. Genevieve County Jail last October.
According to reports, the information was required to be released within 90 days, but was actually released Friday, February 6th, 125 days after his death
The 34-year-old Silva died at the Ste. Genevieve County jail on October 4, 2025.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detainee Death Report:
CRUZ Silva, Leo
General Demographic/Background Information
- Date of Birth: December 19, 1990
- Date of Death: October 4, 2025
- Age: 34
- Sex: Male
- Country of Citizenship: Mexico
Immigration History
On an unknown date, Mr. CRUZ Silva entered the United States without admission or parole.
On June 2, 2010, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Memphis encountered Mr. CRUZ Silva at the Tipton County Jail (TCJ) in Covington, TN and lodged an Immigration Detainer.
On June 8, 2010, ERO Memphis arrested Mr. CRUZ Silva upon his release from TCJ, pursuant to an Immigration Detainer, and served him with a Notice to Appear, charging him as an alien present in the United States without admission or parole under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
On June 11, 2010, Mr. CRUZ Silva posted an immigration bond and ERO Memphis released him from ICE custody.
On September 3, 2010, ERO Memphis encountered Mr. CRUZ Silva at TCJ and lodged an Immigration Detainer with the facility.
On September 20, 2010, ERO Memphis arrested Mr. CRUZ Silva upon release from the TCJ, pursuant to the Immigration Detainer, served him an Order of Release on Recognizance, and released him from ICE custody.
On July 14, 2011, An Immigration Judge ordered Mr. CRUZ Silva removed to Mexico.
On March 23, 2017, ERO Memphis arrested Mr. CRUZ Silva upon his release from Franklin County Jail (FCJ) in Winchester, TN.
On April 18, 2017, ERO Memphis removed Mr. CRUZ Silva to Mexico through the Alexandria, LA port of entry
Between April 2017 and September 2025, Mr. CRUZ Silva unlawfully re-entered the U.S. at least twice and he was removed to Mexico by U.S. Border Patrol once.
On October 1, 2025, ERO Chicago arrested Mr. CRUZ Silva upon release from the Festus Police Department (FPD), pursuant to an immigration detainer, and served him a Notice of Intent/Decision to Reinstate Prior Order, Form I-871 and housed him at Ste. Genevieve County Jail (SGCJ), in Ste Genevieve, MO.
Criminal History
On June 2, 2010, the Tipton Cunty Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) in Covington, TN arrested Mr. CRUZ Silva for disorderly conduct and booked him into TCJ.
On August 31, 2010, TCSO arrested Mr. CRUZ Silva for probation violation and booked him into TCJ.
On February 19, 2017, the Franklin County Sheriff Office in Winchester, TN arrested Mr. CRUZ Silva for a probation violation and booked him into FCJ.
On September 30, 2025, the FPD in Festus, MO arrested Mr. CRUZ Silva for public intoxication.
Synopsis of Events
On October 2, 2025, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) documented an inmate reported that Mr. CRUZ Silva ran through the pod, screamed, hid, and appeared frightened through the night. The LPN documented that Mr. CRUZ Silva did not show present signs of distress and informed the supervisory LPN.
- The supervisory LPN evaluated Mr. CRUZ Silva in the medical clinic and documented he denied suicidal or homicidal ideation and medication use, endorsed auditory hallucinations, but could not provide a medical history. The supervisory LPN placed Mr. CRUZ Silva on 15-minute checks.
- The supervisory LPN reviewed an email from ERO Chicago with information that Mr. CRUZ Silva exhibited paranoia and auditory hallucinations during processing. The supervisory LPN informed ERO Chicago Mr. CRUZ Silva’s presentation indicated a mental health crisis, requested his medical records, and consulted a higher-level provider.
- ERO Chicago notified the supervisory LPN that Mr. CRUZ Silva denied health issues and medication use at processing
On October 3, 2025, an LPN documented Mr. CRUZ Silva was hiding under his bed, attempted to leave his cell when staff entered, and reported audio and visual hallucinations. The LPN consulted a higher-level provider who ordered antipsychotic medication and a plan to evaluate Mr. CRUZ Silva the following week.
On October 4, 2025, at approximately 3:20 p.m., Mr. CRUZ Silva was observed in his cell by SGCJ custody staff with ligature around his neck. SGCJ custody staff immediately called a medical response to the cell, entered the cell, and removed the ligature. SGCJ medical staff responded and observed Mr. CRUZ Silva was warm, clammy, and unresponsive, with blood on both corners of his mouth, and without detectable breath or pulse. SGCJ medical staff immediately called emergency medical services (EMS) and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an automated external defibrillator (AED) until EMS arrived.
- At approximately 3:23 p.m., EMS arrived at SGCJ and assumed lifesaving measures.
- At approximately 3:47 p.m., a Ste. Genevieve County EMS Paramedic pronounced Mr. CRUZ Silva deceased.