(L.A.) Ronnie Thomas, 52, Died in a Hospital

Case Number: 2025-12277

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 52-year-old Black male that occurred in a hospital.

The coroner’s office identified the man as Ronnie Thomas.

Height: 5 feet 6 inches / Weight: 250 pounds

Manner of Death: Natural

Cause of Death: Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Other Significant Conditions: Catatonia, Drug-Induced Parkinsonism, Esophageal Achalasia with Poor Nutrition, Hypertension

RIP RONNIE RAY THOMAS (March 13, 1973 – July 31, 2025)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Thursday.

The decedent had been taken to L.A. General Medical Center. He was LASD’s 29th in-custody death for the year.

He had a rap sheet that included prostitution in 2015 and trespassing in 2019. He was arrested by LAPD in November 2024 for assault with a deadly weapon. In June 2025, he was referred to the Department of Mental Health.

Catatonia is a condition that affects how the brain controls the body and behavior. It causes unusual movements and actions, like not moving at all, holding the body in strange positions, repeating certain movements or words, or not responding to things going on around.

Drug-induced parkinsonism is a movement disorder that closely mimics the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease but is triggered by certain medications that interfere with dopamine pathways in the brain.

Esophageal achalasia is a rare swallowing disorder that makes it progressively more difficult for food and liquids to pass from the esophagus into the stomach due to problems with the lower esophageal sphincter and esophageal muscle contractions.

Achalasia primarily affects the nerves and muscles of the esophagus, especially near the lower end where it meets the stomach.