An autopsy report released Monday confirmed that the death of Emmanuel Damas, a 56-year-old Haitian man who died after spending months at an Arizona immigration detention facility, was related to his severe dental problems. The report, issued by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office, also noted that Damas had declined recommendations at dental appointments to have his problematic teeth removed.
The medical examiner concluded that Damas died from complications of a chest infection with abscesses in his neck and throat area, with the cause of death also referring to his severe dental problems. Damas died after being detained at the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center in Florence, Arizona.
Raymond Audain, Damas’ brother, had previously said that Damas died from an untreated tooth infection. The autopsy confirmed the connection to dental problems while adding the detail that Damas had declined the recommended extractions.
Damas is one of at least 51 detainees who have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since President Donald Trump’s second term began in January 2025. MSI previously reported on the circumstances of Damas’ death in early March, when his brother first raised concerns about the untreated dental condition. The broader pattern of deaths in ICE custody has included cases in Texas, Florida, and along the U.S.-Mexico border, with medical examiners in some of those cases ruling the deaths homicides.