Independent autopsy points to homicide as cause of death in Brentwood police custody case

BRENTWOOD  — A second independent autopsy of 72-year-old Yolanda Ramirez, a Brentwood resident who went unconscious in the back of a police car and died days later at a hospital, claims that her cause of death was a homicide “as a consequence of police restraint.”

Conducted on the request of Ramirez’s family, the autopsy found she suffered from blunt force trauma to the head and torso.

“In view of the clinical history and the findings at the 2nd autopsy, the cause of death of this Hispanic female, Yolanda Bustos Ramirez, is multiple blunt force trauma and asphyxiation with complications all due to and as a consequence of police restraint,” the autopsy report stated. “The manner of death is homicide.”

Melissa Nold, an attorney for Ramirez’s family, said the independent report was sent to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

According to Nold, the county coroner’s office has yet to release its initial autopsy report, but the Ramirez family is expected to receive it in a few weeks.

The family said they hope the findings of the independent autopsy will “fast-track” criminal prosecution of the officers involved, said Nold.

“They are also hoping this new evidence will result in a Coroner’s Inquest to ensure full transparency, particularly since the Contra Costa Coroner’s Office has a long history of concealing in-custody homicides involving local law enforcement,” Nold told this news organization.

An inquest, held in the event of a law enforcement-related death in Contra Costa County, involves a public hearing where jurors are asked to determine the manner of death, whether it was natural causes, suicide, accident, or at the hands of another person other than by accident.

The findings do not determine civil or criminal responsibility.

In January 2025, the Contra Costa Police Chiefs Association updated its investigation procedures under the Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incidents Protocol, doing away with a coroner’s inquest.

The two-page amendment to the protocol states that coroner’s inquests, which were conducted for decades, will be held “only at the discretion of the coroner,” or if requested by other officials such as the attorney general, the district attorney, sheriff, city prosecutor, city attorney, or a chief of police.

Ramirez was arrested on Sept. 26, 2025, on suspicion of a misdemeanor for allegedly yelling outside of her childhood family home on Broderick Drive, where her sister, Sylvia Bustos, lives.

According to a lawsuit filed on Jan. 1 by her family, Ramirez went to pick up her brother for a medical appointment when an argument ensued between the sisters, prompting Bustos to call the police.

The lawsuit alleges that multiple third-party witnesses saw an unidentified female officer speak with Ramirez outside the home for a few minutes, during which Ramirez was “compliant” and explained concerns about her brother’s welfare.

While Ramirez was waiting, she sat in the front passenger seat of her car, then walked slowly to the opposite side of the vehicle a few minutes later, but suddenly, the suit claims, the female officer yelled that Ramirez was fleeing “despite having provided no commands or directions.” Ramirez allegedly made no attempt to escape.

Along with the city, the lawsuit also named Brentwood Police Officer Aaron Peachman.

The lawsuit alleges that Ramirez suffered “head trauma and a brain bleed due to the abuse by Defendant Peachman and the female defendant officer,” requiring emergency surgery.

Ramirez remained on life support until her death on Oct. 3, 2025.

In December 2025, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that an independent investigation into whether any criminal wrongdoing involving a member of the Brentwood Police Department was ongoing.

Earlier this month, the Brentwood City Council directed staff to release camera footage of Ramirez’s arrest to her family no later than Feb. 28.

Brentwood Interim Police Chief Walter O’Grodnick told the City Council at the time that he had notified the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office on Oct. 2, 2025, and formally invoked the county’s Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incidents Protocol.

Under the protocol, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office conducts an independent investigation to determine criminal liability in an incident when an officer or civilian is shot or dies during an encounter with law enforcement in the county.

O’Grodnick said he also directed his department’s professional standards unit to start a separate administrative investigation focused on policy compliance and procedural review.

Nold said it was “incredibly difficult” for the Ramirez family to learn about the injuries suffered, following the results of the independent autopsy.

“She was brutalized by Brentwood Police Officers, but they are very thankful that there was an independent autopsy to expose what the City of Brentwood has been hiding for four months,” said Nold.

O’Grodnick said he was unable to comment on the case due to the pending lawsuit.

“We continue to fully cooperate with the ongoing independent protocol investigation and the independent administrative investigation,” O’Grodnick said.