Photo source: Yolanda Bustos Ramirez’s obituary.
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff-Coroner
At the request of the Contra Costa County District Attorney on April 17, 2026, Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston held an inquest into the death of 72-year-old Yolanda Ramirez of Brentwood on July 15, 2026. This incident occurred on October 3, 2025, in Contra Costa County, while she was in the hospital following her arrest by Brentwood Police on Sept. 26, 2025. (See related articles here, here and here)
The proceedings took place at 9:00 AM at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse at 725 Court Street, Martinez, California.
The purpose of the inquest was to present the facts of the incident to a jury for their deliberation and finding on the manner of death.
Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announced on Wednesday, July 15, that a coroner’s jury reached a finding in the death of Ramirez. The finding of the jury is that the manner of death is accident.
The coroner’s jury reached the verdict in the inquest after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by Hearing Officer Laura Pagey.
A coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving law enforcement personnel, is a public hearing during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: Accident, Suicide, Natural Causes or At the hands of another person other than by accident.
The inquest was open to the public and members of the media were invited to attend. However, no photographs, audio recordings or videos could be taken during the proceedings.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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