A direct witness has challenged the official account regarding the death of Cuban national Denny Adán González at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. The witness claims it was physically impossible for González to have taken his own life in the cell where he died.
Guillermo Aguilar, a deported immigrant who spent time with González at the same facility, provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the 33-year-old Cuban's death on April 28 while in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Alleged Altercation with a Guard
According to Aguilar, the incident began with a confrontation between González and an African American guard. "He argued, and Denny didn't understand any English. He just took it as it was because he couldn't understand anything. Then they started struggling, fighting," Aguilar explained.
The guard fell, hit his forehead, and began bleeding, necessitating a hospital visit. Subsequently, Denny was placed in solitary confinement, colloquially known among detainees as "the hole."
Impossibility of Suicide in Isolation Cell
Aguilar, having been held in the same cell, is adamant: "There's no way you can hang yourself or kill yourself in there. There's nothing."
He explained that guards check on detainees every two to three minutes, signing a log to confirm their well-being. The detainee remains alone, with no objects suitable for hanging.
Aguilar contrasted this with the general population area of the center, where about 100 individuals reside. "If they had told me he killed himself in the other place where I knew him, I'd say yes, because there's a second floor, you can hang yourself there, and there's a bar to tie something to. But where he was, there's no way you can hang yourself."
Family Demands Justice
The death certificate lists hanging as the official cause, but Denny’s mother disputes this and seeks justice. Aguilar recounted her words over the phone: "The guards killed him."
Aguilar also dismissed another circulating theory that González had ingested a liquid. "That's a lie because I can send you a video where someone spoke to the coroner, and she says the reason he died was because he hanged himself, but there's no way Denny could have hanged himself in there," he reiterated.
Aguilar strongly suspects the guards were involved: "He fought and hit the guard. The guards are friends and get along well. They beat Denny, went too far, and killed him. That's what I am almost 100% sure happened."
Claims of a Happy Disposition
The witness also refuted any suggestion that González was depressed. "Denny wasn't someone who was depressed or anything. No, he did a lot of exercise," he stated, recalling that when he last saw him in early April, the Cuban was "super happy" as he planned to reunite with his son in Mexico.
Currently, the family of the deceased Cuban is seeking help to repatriate his remains to Cuba, while his brother also demands answers about the circumstances of his death.
González's death marks the eighteenth under ICE custody so far in 2026, the highest number in 22 years, and the third Cuban death during this time. Previously, Geraldo Lunas Campos died in January—his autopsy ruled homicide by asphyxiation—and Aled Damien Carbonell-Betancourt died in April.
ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Inspector General are keeping the investigation open.
Frequently Asked Questions about Denny Adán González's Death
What is the official cause of Denny Adán González's death?
The official cause of death listed on the death certificate is hanging. However, this is disputed by witnesses and family members.
Why do some believe the official account of González's death is incorrect?
A witness claims that it was physically impossible for González to have hanged himself in the cell where he was detained, due to the absence of objects to hang from and constant surveillance by guards.