News and Articles
05/17/2007
County Inmate Dies in an Apparent Suicide
David Gibba, an inmate at the Santa Fe County Detention Facility, died today in
an apparent suicide. A County correctional officer walked into Mr. Gibba cell at 4:38 am and found him
hanging by the neck with a sheet from the corner of his top bunk. Emergency response was activated
immediately. Jail medical staff (RN and LPN) arrived at 4:41 am and began CPR. Paramedics arrived at
4:50 am and assumed the medical response. Efforts to revive Mr. Gibba were discontinued at 5:15 am.
Mr. Gibba was housed in Unit A, which is a segregation unit. Inmates who have a higher profile because
of the circumstances or media attention surrounding their incarceration are routinely housed there. Mr.
Gibba was last observed to be sleeping in his bunk at 4:05 am by an officer during routine 30 minute
checks.
Mr. Gibba was first admitted on May 10th on charges of Indecent Exposure and Breaking and Entering.
During his initial assessment, Mr. Gibba denied any suicide ideation or intent to harm himself. Both the
Jail Administrator and a Captain at the Jail met with Gibba him one-on-one on May 15th. Mr. Gibba told
each of them that he was "doing well." On May 16th, Mr. Gibba was served with additional charges by the
Santa Fe Police Department for False Imprisonment and Aggravated Burglary.
There were several notes found in Mr. Gibba's cell. Those notes now become part of an ongoing
investigation by the Santa Fe Police Department into Gibba's possible connection with a series of rapes and
other crimes.
"I am saddened by this tragedy" said Annabelle Romero, Santa Fe County Corrections Department
Director, "We are very concerned and are increasing our vigilance to make sure this event does not become
a trigger for other suicide attempts."
an apparent suicide. A County correctional officer walked into Mr. Gibba cell at 4:38 am and found him
hanging by the neck with a sheet from the corner of his top bunk. Emergency response was activated
immediately. Jail medical staff (RN and LPN) arrived at 4:41 am and began CPR. Paramedics arrived at
4:50 am and assumed the medical response. Efforts to revive Mr. Gibba were discontinued at 5:15 am.
Mr. Gibba was housed in Unit A, which is a segregation unit. Inmates who have a higher profile because
of the circumstances or media attention surrounding their incarceration are routinely housed there. Mr.
Gibba was last observed to be sleeping in his bunk at 4:05 am by an officer during routine 30 minute
checks.
Mr. Gibba was first admitted on May 10th on charges of Indecent Exposure and Breaking and Entering.
During his initial assessment, Mr. Gibba denied any suicide ideation or intent to harm himself. Both the
Jail Administrator and a Captain at the Jail met with Gibba him one-on-one on May 15th. Mr. Gibba told
each of them that he was "doing well." On May 16th, Mr. Gibba was served with additional charges by the
Santa Fe Police Department for False Imprisonment and Aggravated Burglary.
There were several notes found in Mr. Gibba's cell. Those notes now become part of an ongoing
investigation by the Santa Fe Police Department into Gibba's possible connection with a series of rapes and
other crimes.
"I am saddened by this tragedy" said Annabelle Romero, Santa Fe County Corrections Department
Director, "We are very concerned and are increasing our vigilance to make sure this event does not become
a trigger for other suicide attempts."