The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has released information about the death of 82-year-old Thomas Richard Heaven. Heaven died while in Sheriff’s custody earlier this year. He was a San Diego resident and was being held on several counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14, under Penal Code section 288(a). He was awaiting sentencing, which was set for May 5, 2025, at the San Diego Central Court.
On March 17, 2025, Heaven was taken from the San Diego Central Jail to a local hospital. He had low blood pressure and a high heart rate. He required further medical care. On April 7, 2025, he was moved to the Sheriff’s Hospital Guard Unit at another hospital, where he remained in custody.
Heaven’s health worsened on April 24, 2025, due to low oxygen levels. He was pronounced dead at 11:45 p.m. that night. The Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy. The cause of death was sepsis from streptococcal group A bacteremia. Other health conditions included cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and type 2 diabetes. The death was classified as natural…