The family of a man who committed suicide while incarcerated at the Tehama County Jail has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county in federal district court.
William Joseph Costa, 30, of Red Bluff, was being held in the jail accused of rape when he was found hanging from a bed sheet on Dec. 15, 2010.
He was pronounced dead a short time later at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital.
Costa's family claims he was denied "certain constitutional rights" while incarcerated, and jail staff was "indifferent" to his medical needs directly leading to his death.
