The case against an ex-employee at a Tucson psychiatric hospital who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in a patient's death last year has been dismissed.
On June 15, Bryce Nolan Coleman, 28, a former employee at a Sonora Behavioral Health facility and University of Arizona running back, turned himself in to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. At the time, Coleman had an active warrant for manslaughter in the death of Bluesky D. Thomas, 44, who was a patient at the facility when he died in October 2025, the department said in a news release.
During a preliminary hearing on Monday, a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence, effectively dismissing Coleman's case, court records show.
The Pima County Attorney's Office did not provide an update on whether they plan to refile.
Details surrounding Thomas’ death are still sparse.
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Thomas had been admitted on Oct. 2, 2025, because he was showing signs of psychosis, his autopsy report says.
On Oct. 20, 2025, Thomas “reportedly became agitated” and was given Haldol, Ativan and Benadryl, the report says.
“During an altercation with staff," it continues, "he became unresponsive on the floor.”
He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next day.
Examiners found blunt force trauma to the head, neck, torso and extremities, including a broken neck, missing teeth and a lacerated liver.
Thomas’ manner of death was ruled a homicide, the report says.
Following Thomas’ death, the Arizona Department of Health Services conducted an inspection stretching from Oct. 23 through Nov. 4, 2025.
During its inspection, the department found that Sonora had used unapproved restraint techniques and did not comply with state requirements for emergency response.
Coleman was a 2016 Mountain View High School graduate and multi-sport athlete who went on to play football for Eastern Arizona Community College. He later landed a spot on the Arizona roster as a running back for one season in 2019. After that season, he transferred to Western New Mexico University.
