Nueces County Jail inmate Juan Carlos Cantu was detained in the Corpus Christi jail from September 7, 2022, to September 14, 2022. The place of his death was Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital at 600 Elizabeth Street in Corpus Christi. Mr. Cantu was only 36 years old when he died in the jail’s custody.

Donald Oscar Cruz Dies on his 5^th Day as a Nueces County Jail Inmate

Donald Oscar Cruz was booked into Nueces County Jail on November 13, 2020. He was housed in a multiple occupancy cell at 901 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401. The custodial death report (CDR) indicates that the cell he was in was located was in the law enforcement facility/booking center, and that’s where Mr. Cruz died at age 48 on November 18, 2020.

Only 1 of 4 of the typical yes-or-no questions asked during intake were answered in the section of the CDR that asks “at any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent…” The form shows that it is unknown whether he appeared to be intoxicated, exhibited mental health problems, or made suicidal statements. The answer was “yes” to whether he exhibited any medical problems.

The autopsy results, per the CDR, indicate that Mr. Cruz died of natural causes, but the medical cause lacked specificity. It says nothing more than “medical complications.”

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this ongoing series.

The purpose of this website is to help inmates detained in county and city jails in Texas. Accusing persons or entities of wrongdoing is not intended on this site.

–Guest Contributor