Edgar Villatoro-Alvarez was in the custody of Fort Worth’s Tarrant County Jail in Texas when he died at age 40 on February 25, 2022. His cause of death is still unknown and pending the results of the autopsy. The custodial death report (CDR) indicates that an external investigation of the death will be conducted by the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) Major Case Unit (MCU).

High-Risk Situations and Times for Inmates

Research has revealed patterns of suicidal behavior among inmates. The following are among the high-risk times and situations in which inmate suicides often occur:

• When the inmate is booked into the jail
• On days 2 through 14 of incarceration
• After any of the following situations: institutional proceedings, parole is denied, within 48 hours after a court appearance, new charges, and additional sentences
• After being admitted into single-cell or segregation housing
• Soon after receiving bad news about self or family such as serious illness or the death of a loved one
• After suffering rejection or humiliation such as being sexually assaulted
• Due for release after a long incarceration period

Other situations that can become high-risk times for inmates include:

• Decreased supervision by jail staff
• Anniversary dates
• Pending release from custody, particularly when the inmate lacks a viable discharge plan due to lack of housing, family, employment, and other stabilizing resources.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this continuing series.

Making insinuations that individuals or organizations have participated in misdeeds is never an intent on this website. Helping county Texas jail inmates is the purpose of posts on this site.

–Guest Contributor