Roosevelt detention center inmate dies

PORTALES — A Union County man housed at the Roosevelt County Detention Center died Wednesday at the jail, according to a Roosevelt County news release.

Eric Padilla, 37, was found unresponsive in the early morning hours, and lifesaving measures on scene by staff and first responders were unsuccessful, the release stated.

A jail report stated Padilla "died of unnatural causes," but offered no additional information.

County Manager Amber Hamilton and Sheriff Malin Parker declined to disclose other details regarding Padilla’s death, including the cause. Parker and Hamilton said the matter was still under investigation on Saturday morning.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Padilla’s family and loved ones during this time of loss,” Hamilton said in the release.

“Roosevelt County is offering counseling services to both detainees and staff members as we work through this tragedy. It can be extremely difficult and challenging to process this type of death and we want to ensure our team and detainees are all supported and have continued access to services.”

Padilla had been held at the RCDC since March on aggravated battery charges out of Union County, court records show.