FORT WORTH, Texas — A 51-year-old Tarrant County Jail inmate died on Monday after reporting he felt unwell, marking another death in the facility that has seen a troubling number of fatalities in recent years. The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office reported that the inmate, who had been in custody since September 10 on multiple serious charges, received immediate medical attention at the jail before being transported to John Peter Smith Hospital.
Upon the arrival of the ambulance, the inmate became unresponsive, prompting emergency personnel to initiate life-saving procedures. Despite these efforts, he was pronounced dead later that afternoon at the hospital. The cause of death is pending an investigation that will involve the Tarrant County Medical Examiner and several overseeing agencies.
The man had been detained on charges including multiple counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Reflecting the gravity of these accusations, his death brings these proceedings to a premature end and raises questions about the circumstances leading to his demise.
This incident will be scrutinized by various authorities including the Tarrant County Medical Examiner, TCSO criminal investigations division, hospital medical staff, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, and an external law enforcement agency, as is standard practice for all in-custody deaths.
The death adds to a concerning tally under the administration of Republican Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, who took office in 2017 and was re-elected last month. Since his tenure began, over 60 inmates have died in the county’s jail system. These figures surpass the national average for inmate deaths, a disparity that has caught the attention of both local officials and national observers.
Just last year, more than $2 million was allocated by Tarrant County to settle lawsuits linked to the jail, highlighting ongoing issues within the institution. The commission most notably approved a record settlement in May.
In an effort to address concerns related to these numerous deaths, Sheriff Waybourn provided a report to county commissioners last month, detailing the causes of these fatalities. According to the report, compiled by the National Institute of Corrections, 45 were due to natural causes, such as cardiac issues, cancer, and HIV. Additionally, the jail recorded six suicides and seven deaths related to toxicity from substances like drugs or alcohol.
Despite these explanations, Commissioner Alisa Simmons has called for a more thorough investigation by the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. She argues that openness to scrutiny can only help improve the facility’s operations and ensure justice and safety for all inmates. Simmons emphasized the significance of transparency and accountability, expressing that welcoming external evaluation should not be a contentious issue if operations are being conducted properly.
Given the frequency and nature of these incidents, the outcomes of the forthcoming investigations will be crucial in determining the future management and operational standards of Tarrant County Jail, as well as in maintaining public trust in the local justice system.