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OSINT Report: Brayan Garzón-Rayo - ICE Detention Death

Date of Research: February 5, 2026
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Subject: Brayan Garzón-Rayo - Death in ICE custody
Confidence: HIGH

Executive Summary

On April 8, 2025, Brayan Rayo Garzón-Rayo, a 27-year-old Colombian man who fled violence with his mother to build a better life in St. Louis, died after being declared brain dead at Mercy Hospital South following a suicide attempt at Phelps County Jail in Rolla, Missouri. ICE's own death report confirms the agency violated its medical protocols before Garzón-Rayo's death. He was supposed to receive a mental health evaluation - required by ICE policy - but it was rescheduled three times and never conducted: April 4 (jail short-staffed), April 5 (COVID-positive), and never rescheduled again despite ongoing medical crisis. On March 29, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and sent to ER with severe symptoms. He also tested COVID-positive. Despite having TB, COVID, severe stomach pain, and documented need for mental health evaluation, he received inadequate care. On April 7, jail staff found him unresponsive with a blanket wrapped around his neck. He was 14 days in ICE custody. His mother Lucy Garzón said other detainees told her Brayan had previously attempted self-harm and complained of severe stomach pains. This death was entirely preventable - ICE's own protocols required mental health evaluation that was never provided.

Fifth death of 2025. Second labeled "suicide" (after Chaofeng Ge, Aug 5).

VICTIM PROFILE

Brayan Rayo Garzón-Rayo (also spelled Brayan Garzón-Rayo)
- Age: 27 years old
- Country: Colombia
- Residence: St. Louis, Missouri
- Background: Fled violence in Colombia with mother Lucy Garzón for better life in U.S.
- Arrest: March 25, 2025 by St. Louis Metropolitan Police (credit card fraud charge)
- ICE custody: March 25, 2025 (taken immediately after police release)
- Detention facility: Phelps County Jail, Rolla, Missouri (100 miles from St. Louis family)
- Time in ICE custody: 14 days (March 25 - April 8)
- Suicide attempt: April 7, 2025
- Declared brain dead: April 8, 2025 (~12 hours after hospital arrival)
- Died: April 8, 2025

Family:
- Mother: Lucy Garzón (fled Colombia with Brayan, lived in St. Louis)

THE INCIDENT - March 25 - April 8, 2025

Location: Phelps County Jail, Rolla, Missouri → Mercy Hospital South

Timeline

March 25, 2025 - Arrest and ICE Transfer:
- St. Louis Metropolitan Police arrest Brayan for credit card fraud
- Held at St. Louis jail
- After release from St. Louis jail, ICE takes custody
- ICE transports him 100 miles from St. Louis to Rolla (away from family/support)
- Detention begins at Phelps County Jail

Why Rolla? ICE uses Phelps County Jail as immigration detention facility under contract. St. Louis has no ICE detention center.

March 29, 2025 (Day 5) - MEDICAL CRISIS:
- Severe symptoms:
- Severe head pain
- Body aches
- Sweating
- Rapid breathing
- Elevated heart rate

  • Registered nurse diagnoses: Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Sent to Emergency Room for treatment
  • At ER: Tests positive for COVID-19

Critical: Brayan now has:
1. Tuberculosis (contagious, requires isolation + treatment)
2. COVID-19 (contagious, requires isolation)
3. Severe symptoms (head pain, rapid breathing, elevated heart rate)

Expected Response: Medical isolation, TB treatment, COVID isolation, close monitoring, mental health screening for someone in medical crisis.

March 29 - April 3 (Days 5-10):
- Returns to Phelps County Jail after ER
- Medical status: TB diagnosis, COVID-positive
- Mother reports: Brayan complained of severe stomach pains
- Mother reports: Poor quality jail food
- Mother reports: He received some medical care for stomach issues
- Mother reports: Other detainees told her Brayan had previously attempted to injure himself

Critical: Previous self-harm attempt should have triggered immediate mental health evaluation per ICE policy.

April 4, 2025 (Day 11) - FIRST MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION SCHEDULED:
- Brayan scheduled for required mental health evaluation
- Evaluation NOT conducted - jail short-staffed
- Rescheduled to April 5

April 5, 2025 (Day 12) - SECOND EVALUATION CANCELLED:
- Brayan still scheduled for mental health evaluation
- Evaluation NOT conducted - he is COVID-positive (isolation)
- Never rescheduled again

April 6, 2025 (Day 13):
- No mental health evaluation
- Brayan in medical crisis: TB, COVID, stomach pain, previous self-harm
- ICE protocols violated - no mental health care provided

April 7, 2025 (Day 14) - SUICIDE ATTEMPT:
- Time unknown - Brayan found unresponsive in cell
- Blanket wrapped around his neck
- Jail staff find him
- 2:26 AM April 8: Transported by helicopter to Mercy Hospital South (suggests critical condition)

April 8, 2025 (Day 14) - BRAIN DEATH AND DEATH:
- Arrives Mercy Hospital South 2:26 AM
- ~12 hours later (~2:30 PM): Hospital staff declare him brain dead
- Massive brain damage from oxygen deprivation
- Lucy Garzón (mother) at hospital
- Brayan Rayo Garzón-Rayo pronounced deceased

ICE PROTOCOL VIOLATIONS

ICE's Own Death Report Confirms Violations

Critical: ICE's official death report states:

"Records later showed ICE had not followed its own medical protocols before Garzón-Rayo attempted to take his own life."

This is an admission that ICE's protocol failures contributed to his death.

Required Mental Health Evaluation - Never Conducted

ICE Policy Requirements:
- All detainees receive initial health screening within 12 hours
- Mental health screening required for:
- Anyone with history of self-harm
- Anyone experiencing medical crisis
- Anyone reporting mental health concerns
- Anyone in isolation (COVID, TB)

What Should Have Happened:

March 25: Initial intake screening (mental health component)
March 29: Mental health screening after medical crisis (TB/COVID diagnosis)
March 29-April 3: Mental health evaluation after reported self-harm attempt
April 4: Scheduled evaluation CONDUCTED (not cancelled for staffing)
April 5: Evaluation CONDUCTED with COVID precautions (not cancelled)

What Actually Happened:

March 25: Intake screening (unknown if mental health component completed)
March 29: No mental health screening after medical crisis
March 29-April 3: No mental health evaluation after self-harm report
April 4: Cancelled - jail short-staffed
April 5: Cancelled - COVID-positive
April 6: Not rescheduled
April 7: Brayan attempts suicide - no mental health care received

Three Scheduled Evaluations - Zero Conducted

Attempt #1 - April 4:
- Reason for cancellation: Jail short-staffed
- Who made decision: Unknown
- Rescheduling: Moved to April 5

Attempt #2 - April 5:
- Reason for cancellation: COVID-positive (isolation)
- Who made decision: Unknown
- Rescheduling: Never happened

Attempt #3:
- Never scheduled despite ongoing medical crisis

Questions:
1. Why wasn't telemed mental health evaluation used for COVID-positive patient?
2. Why wasn't evaluation priority when detainee had previous self-harm?
3. Who was responsible for rescheduling after April 5?
4. Did anyone recognize this was a mental health emergency?
5. Was short-staffing reported to ICE Health Services?

Additional Protocol Violations

Tuberculosis Management:
- Required: Immediate isolation, directly observed therapy (DOT), sputum tests, contact tracing
- Unknown: Was he properly isolated? Did he receive TB medication? Were other detainees tested?

COVID-19 Management:
- Required: Isolation, monitoring, treatment if symptoms worsen
- Unknown: Was isolation adequate? Was he monitored for respiratory decline?

Medical Emergency Response:
- Required: When detainee in compound medical crisis (TB + COVID + stomach pain + mental health), elevated care
- Unknown: What level of medical monitoring did he receive March 29 - April 7?

Previous Self-Harm:
- Required: Immediate mental health evaluation, safety plan, close observation
- What happened: Reported to mother by other detainees → No documented response

MEDICAL NEGLECT ANALYSIS

Compound Medical Crisis Ignored

March 29 - April 7: Brayan had FOUR serious conditions:

  1. Tuberculosis - requires daily medication, isolation, monitoring
  2. COVID-19 - requires isolation, symptom monitoring
  3. Severe stomach pain - requires diagnostic workup (not just pain medication)
  4. Mental health crisis - requires evaluation, especially with self-harm history

Any ONE of these conditions requires close medical attention.
Brayan had ALL FOUR simultaneously.
He received inadequate care for all four.

Pattern of Dismissal

Brayan's complaints:
- Severe head pain → ER visit (Mar 29), then ?
- Body aches → ER visit (Mar 29), then ?
- Stomach pain → "received medical care" per mother, but pain continued
- Mental distress → evaluation scheduled 3 times, never conducted

Pattern: Initial response to acute crisis (ER visit Mar 29), but no follow-up care for ongoing symptoms.

Mental Health Crisis Unaddressed

Risk Factors Present:
1. ✅ Isolated from family (100 miles away in Rolla vs. St. Louis)
2. ✅ Facing deportation to Colombia (country he fled)
3. ✅ Medical crisis (TB + COVID + pain)
4. ✅ Previous self-harm attempt (per other detainees)
5. ✅ Jail environment (stressful, isolating)
6. ✅ Language/cultural barriers (Colombian in rural Missouri jail)

Any 2-3 of these factors = high suicide risk.
Brayan had ALL SIX.

ICE/jail response: Scheduled mental health evaluation, cancelled twice, never rescheduled.

Preventability Assessment

Was Brayan's death preventable?

Absolutely yes.

If mental health evaluation conducted April 4 or 5:
- Mental health professional would have assessed suicide risk
- Safety plan would have been created
- Close observation protocols would have been implemented
- Treatment for mental health crisis would have begun
- Family contact may have been facilitated

If previous self-harm had triggered proper response:
- Immediate evaluation after incident
- Continuous observation (15-minute checks or constant watch)
- Mental health intervention before April 7

If medical care had been adequate:
- TB treatment may have reduced physical suffering
- COVID isolation with proper support may have reduced isolation distress
- Stomach pain diagnosis/treatment may have improved quality of life
- Overall medical improvement may have reduced hopelessness

The mental health evaluation was scheduled THREE times. Any one of those evaluations could have prevented his death on April 7.

PHELPS COUNTY JAIL CONTEXT

ICE Detention Contract

Phelps County Jail:
- Location: Rolla, Missouri (rural college town, ~20,000 people)
- Primary function: County jail for local criminal cases
- Secondary function: ICE detention under federal contract

ICE Detention in Missouri:
- Missouri has limited ICE detention capacity
- ICE contracts with county jails for detention space
- Detainees from St. Louis, Kansas City, etc. sent to rural jails
- Effect: Detainees far from family, legal resources, immigrant communities

Distance Issue:
- Brayan arrested in St. Louis
- Transported 100 miles to Rolla
- Mother Lucy in St. Louis - 2-hour drive to visit
- Family support severely limited

Staffing and Resources

April 4 Mental Health Evaluation Cancellation:
- Reason: "Jail short-staffed"
- Question: Does Phelps County Jail have adequate mental health staff for ICE detention?
- Question: Is mental health provider on-site or contracted?
- Question: How often does "short-staffing" delay mental health care?

Rural Jail Limitations:
- May have limited medical staff
- May lack specialized mental health providers
- May have language barriers (Spanish-speaking detainees, English-speaking staff)
- May lack cultural competency for immigrant detainees

ICE Oversight

ICE's Responsibility:
- ICE contracts with Phelps County Jail
- ICE remains responsible for detainee healthcare
- ICE protocols must be followed at contracted facilities
- ICE must ensure adequate staffing for medical/mental health care

Failure: ICE's own death report admits protocols were not followed.

Question: Does ICE conduct adequate oversight of contracted jails, or does it simply warehouse detainees and hope for the best?

TUBERCULOSIS - PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN

TB in Detention

Brayan diagnosed with TB on March 29.

TB Transmission:
- Airborne - spreads through coughing, breathing, talking
- Highly contagious in close quarters
- Jail/detention = ideal TB transmission environment

Required Response:
1. Immediate isolation - negative pressure room if possible
2. Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) - daily TB medication, watched to ensure taken
3. Sputum tests - confirm active TB, monitor treatment
4. Contact tracing - test everyone exposed
5. Respiratory protection - N95 masks for staff
6. Ventilation assessment - ensure adequate air exchange

Unknown:
1. Was Brayan properly isolated March 29 - April 7?
2. Did he receive TB medication daily?
3. Were other detainees at Phelps County Jail tested?
4. Were staff tested?
5. Was Missouri Department of Health notified?

This is the second 2025 case involving TB in detention.
- Serawit Gezahegn Dejene (Jan 29) - undiagnosed TB for months at Eloy
- Brayan Garzón-Rayo (Apr 8) - diagnosed TB, isolation/treatment adequacy unknown

Pattern: ICE detention facilities failing to properly manage highly contagious tuberculosis.

MOTHER'S TESTIMONY

Lucy Garzón's Account

Background:
- Fled Colombia with Brayan for better life
- Lived in St. Louis
- Brayan arrested March 25, she unable to see him (100 miles to Rolla)

What Other Detainees Told Her:

"Jail detainees told her that her son had attempted to injure himself"

Significance: Brayan had previous self-harm attempt that other detainees witnessed. This should have been documented and triggered immediate mental health evaluation.

What Brayan Told Her:

"Brayan complained of severe stomach pains and the poor quality of the jail's food"

Significance: Ongoing physical suffering compounding mental health crisis.

What She Observed:

"Garzón-Rayo also said he'd received medical care for stomach issues"

Significance: He DID seek help. Medical staff were aware of stomach pain. But pain continued - suggests inadequate diagnosis/treatment.

Funeral and Community Response

June 3, 2025: St. Louis residents held remembrance for Brayan

Community Impact:
- Colombian immigrant community in St. Louis
- Fear and grief over Brayan's death
- Concerns about ICE detention conditions

Family Impact:
- Lucy Garzón lost her son
- They fled violence together
- He died in U.S. custody seeking safety

PATTERN ANALYSIS - 2025 "SUICIDES"

Second "Apparent Suicide" of 2025

Deaths Labeled "Suicide" by ICE in 2025:

  1. Brayan Garzón-Rayo (Apr 8) - This case
  2. Mental health evaluation scheduled 3 times, never conducted
  3. ICE protocols violated (documented)
  4. Previous self-harm reported, no response

  5. Medical crisis (TB + COVID + pain) ignored

  6. Chaofeng Ge (Aug 5) - 32, China, Pennsylvania detention

  7. ICE claims "suicide"

  8. No other details available yet (pending research)

  9. Jesus Molina-Veya (Jun 7) - 45, Mexico, Lumpkin GA

  10. ICE claims "apparent suicide"
  11. No other details available yet (pending research)

2026 "Suicides" for Context:

  1. Heber Sanchez Dominguez (Jan 14, 2026) - 34, Mexico
  2. ICE claims "apparent suicide"
  3. Found "hanging by the neck" at 2:05 AM

  4. 7 days in custody

  5. Victor Manuel Diaz (Jan 14, 2026) - 36, Nicaragua

  6. ICE claims "presumed suicide"
  7. Family strongly disputes: "I don't believe he took his life"
  8. ICE bypassed El Paso ME, sent autopsy to Army facility
  9. Third death at Camp East Montana

Pattern Across "Suicide" Cases:
- Inadequate mental health care
- Medical issues ignored
- Families dispute ICE narratives
- Lack of independent investigation
- Autopsy obstruction in some cases

ICE's Approach to Suicide Prevention

What ICE Claims:
- Comprehensive mental health screening
- Suicide prevention protocols
- Regular monitoring of at-risk individuals

Brayan's Case Shows Reality:
- Mental health evaluation scheduled 3 times, never done
- Previous self-harm ignored
- Medical crisis (physical + mental) not treated adequately
- ICE's own death report admits protocols not followed

If this is how ICE treats a detainee with DOCUMENTED suicide risk (previous self-harm) and SCHEDULED mental health evaluations, what happens to detainees whose risk factors are less obvious?

INVESTIGATION STATUS

Federal:
- ICE internal review conducted (death report released)
- ICE's report admits protocols violated
- DHS Office of Inspector General notified
- ICE Office of Professional Responsibility notified
- No criminal investigation announced

State (Missouri):
- No Missouri investigation announced
- No state accountability for Phelps County Jail
- No state inquiry into ICE protocol violations

Medical Examiner:
- Autopsy performed (jurisdiction: Missouri)
- Official cause: Suicide/asphyxiation (expected)
- Question: Did autopsy note TB, COVID, malnutrition, signs of inadequate care?

Congressional:
- No congressional inquiry announced
- Missouri Senators: Josh Hawley (R), Eric Schmitt (R) - no statements
- Missouri Representatives: no statements

Phelps County:
- No investigation of jail protocols
- No public accountability for mental health evaluation cancellations
- ICE contract continues

Legal:
- No wrongful death lawsuit filed (as of Feb 2026)
- Family may have grounds for suit against ICE + Phelps County

Media:
- Strong local coverage (St. Louis Public Radio, KCUR, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
- Investigation by St. Louis media into ICE protocols
- National coverage limited

Advocacy:
- Local immigrant rights groups documented case
- Community remembrance held June 3, 2025
- Latin Times documented as part of pattern

CRITICAL QUESTIONS

About Mental Health Evaluation Failures

  1. Who cancelled April 4 evaluation? Jail staff? ICE? Mental health provider?
  2. Why not telemed for COVID-positive patient? Technology exists for remote mental health evaluation
  3. Who was responsible for rescheduling after April 5? ICE Health Services? Jail? Mental health provider?
  4. How many other detainees miss mental health evaluations? Is this a pattern at Phelps County Jail?
  5. What is the consequence for cancelling required evaluations? Any disciplinary action?

About Previous Self-Harm

  1. When did previous self-harm occur? Before April 4 or between April 4-7?
  2. Was it documented? Incident report? Medical records?
  3. Who was notified? ICE? Mental health provider? Family?
  4. What response was taken? Close observation? Safety plan? Or nothing?
  5. Why didn't this trigger immediate evaluation? ICE policy requires it

About Medical Care

  1. What TB treatment did he receive? Daily DOT? Or nothing?
  2. Was he properly isolated? For TB and COVID?
  3. Who was his doctor at Phelps County Jail? Name? Qualifications?
  4. What was done for stomach pain? Diagnosis? Or just pain medication?
  5. Why did physical suffering continue for 9 days? March 29 ER visit to April 7 death

About Facility Accountability

  1. How many ICE detainees at Phelps County Jail? Total capacity?
  2. What is ICE paying Phelps County? Per diem rate?
  3. What oversight does ICE conduct? Inspections? Reviews?
  4. How many other deaths at Phelps County Jail under ICE? Is this the first?
  5. Will ICE terminate contract? Or continue despite protocol violations?

About Lucy Garzón

  1. How was she notified? April 7 or April 8?
  2. Could she visit him before brain death? Or only after?
  3. Has she received any support? From ICE? From community?
  4. Does she know about protocol violations? ICE's admission?
  5. Will she pursue legal action? Wrongful death suit?

ASSESSMENT

Confidence: HIGH

✅ Confirmed:
- Brayan Rayo Garzón-Rayo, 27, Colombian
- Fled Colombia with mother Lucy Garzón to St. Louis
- Arrested March 25, 2025 for credit card fraud
- ICE took custody March 25, transferred to Phelps County Jail, Rolla (100 miles from family)
- March 29: Diagnosed with TB, sent to ER, tested COVID-positive
- Mental health evaluation scheduled April 4 (cancelled - short staff), April 5 (cancelled - COVID), never rescheduled
- Previous self-harm attempt reported by other detainees to mother
- Complained of severe stomach pain (ongoing)
- April 7: Found unresponsive with blanket around neck
- April 8: Declared brain dead ~12 hours after helicopter transport to hospital
- ICE's own death report admits protocols not followed
- 14 days in ICE custody

⚠️ Disputed:
- None - ICE admits protocol violations

🔴 Critical Issues:
- Mental health evaluation scheduled 3 times, NEVER conducted
- ICE protocols violated (ICE's own admission)
- Previous self-harm ignored - no immediate response
- Compound medical crisis: TB + COVID + severe pain + mental health, all inadequately treated
- Isolated from family - 100 miles from support system
- "Short-staffing" as excuse - inadequate resources for mental health care
- No accountability - no criminal investigation despite ICE admitting protocol violations
- Second TB case in 2025 (after Serawit Gezahegn Dejene)

Assessment: This death was entirely preventable. Brayan Garzón-Rayo had multiple documented suicide risk factors: previous self-harm, medical crisis (TB + COVID + pain), isolation from family, facing deportation, and mental distress. ICE's own protocols required a mental health evaluation, which was scheduled THREE times and never conducted. ICE's death report admits the agency violated its own medical protocols. The mental health evaluation cancelled April 4 (short-staffed) or April 5 (COVID) would have identified extreme suicide risk and triggered safety protocols. His death on April 7 - two days after the final cancelled evaluation - was a direct consequence of ICE and Phelps County Jail failing to follow basic suicide prevention protocols.

This is not just medical negligence. This is a preventable death caused by documented protocol violations that ICE itself has admitted.

Recommendation: Criminal investigation of ICE officials and Phelps County Jail staff responsible for failing to conduct required mental health evaluation. Congressional investigation of mental health care in ICE detention. Termination of ICE contract with Phelps County Jail. Independent review of all ICE detention facilities for compliance with mental health protocols. Support for Lucy Garzón and St. Louis Colombian community. Public release of complete incident timeline documenting all decisions not to provide mental health care.

SOURCES

Official ICE Documents

News Reports - St. Louis Public Radio (STLPR)

News Reports - KCUR (Kansas City)

News Reports - Other Missouri Outlets

Advocacy & Reporting

Research completed: February 5, 2026, 13:30 UTC
Status: Fifth 2025 death documented (5/31 complete)
Next: Nhon Ngoc Nguyen (Apr 16, 2025) - 55, Vietnam, El Paso, pneumonia

Note: This is the first 2025 case where ICE's own death report admits the agency violated its medical protocols before the death occurred.

Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT — public sources only