Community Corner
Jury Finds Jail Nurse Died At The Hands Of Another
A coroner's jury finds that 55-year-old Cynthia Palomata died at the hands of inmate Aaron Nygaard of El Cerrito.
By Bay City News
A nurse attacked by a Contra Costa County jail inmate nearly a year ago was found by a coroner's jury Tuesday to have died at the hands of another person, other than by accident.
The verdict came at the close of a coroner's inquest into the death of 55-year-old El Sobrante resident Cynthia Palomata, who was attacked while working at the Martinez Detention Facility by inmate Aaron Nygaard, 35, of El Cerrito.
Nygaard allegedly attacked Palomata with a lamp on October 25, 2010, while she was treating him for apparent alcohol withdrawal symptoms, leading to her death three days later.
He had been jailed after an El Cerrito resident found him breaking
into his home.
Nygaard is now being held in Alameda County Jail where he is awaiting trial for Palomata's murder.
The coroner's jury reached the verdict Tuesday after hearing testimony from witnesses to the attack, sheriff's officials said.
The Contra Costa County coroner holds inquests into all fatal incidents involving peace officers.
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