On December 9, 2020, Evatt Joli Hernandez died in Alpine, Texas. The Brewster County Sheriff’s Department filed the custodial death report on Ms. Hernandez’s death. Instead of providing further details on what happened that tragic night, the report indicates that the incident in which she was shot once in the chest is still being investigated by the Texas Rangers.

The following is more information on findings related to Texas Ranger investigations scrutinized by a newspaper outside Texas.

Claims Regarding Texas Ranger Investigations Continued

• The newspaper found that a Texas Ranger handled a custodial death negligently in 2018. They discovered that the Ranger did not begin his investigation until 11 days after the custodial death of a 36-year-old Texas man. Also, they claim that the Ranger never visited the scene, which allegedly involved an officer holding the deceased by the head and neck due to the suspect’s frantic behavior. In addition, the only interview that the Ranger allegedly conducted in the death was one with a toxicologist. 

• The newspaper claims that the Texas Ranger who investigated the death of a 41-year-old man did not properly handle the investigation. They say he gave attorneys for the Sheriff’s Department video footage before taking their statements. Also, records indicate that the man complained of being unable to breathe before losing consciousness and dying. 

See Part 1 and this ongoing series.

There is no intention on this website to make an inference of wrongdoing having occurred on the part of any individuals or entities. The goal of posting on this site is to help inmates incarcerated in Texas county jails, whether currently or formerly jailed.

–Guest Contributor