Heidiann Gitts Dies in the Custody of Tarrant County Jail Continued

The custodial death report about the tragic death of Heidiann Renee Gitts on the third day of her incarceration at Tarrant County Jail mentions almost nothing about the medical care she received there. However, it does show that the decedent had been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused her death after she was admitted to Tarrant County Jail’s jurisdiction. Although the official cause of death is unknown and is pending an autopsy report, the medical cause of death is listed as “cardiac arrest.”

The following are details in the summary of how Ms. Gitts’ death occurred:

Inmate Gitts was housed under detox protocols following her booking into Tarrant County Jail. She experienced a medical emergency in the shower area of her pod on the day of her death, which was March 20, 2023. The jail called for emergency medical services, and she was transported by ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital before she was declared deceased there at around 1:06 PM.

A State Report Shows that 11 Inmates Died in Tarrant County Jail in 2022

County jails in Texas are required to file a custodial death report within 30 days after an inmate dies. Jails are sometimes non-compliant, which means there is a possibility that state records listing deaths in Tarrant County Jail in 2022 may not be a complete list. Learn about some of those deaths in this continuing series. Also, see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

One of the purposes of this website is to provide resources helpful to Texas detainees held in county and municipal jails. There is no intention of intimidating that individuals or organizations have been involved in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor