Per autopsy results, the medical cause of death of 44-year-old Bexar County Jail inmate Juan Carlos Guerrero on November 2, 2022, was “Cerebral hypoxia/asphyxia by hanging.” He used a sheet tied to the top bunk in cell BE28 to hang himself. Mr. Guerrero had been an inmate at the San Antonio, Texas, jail since October 4—approximately one month.

37-Year-Old Julie Alvarado Commits Suicide in Bexar County Jail

Julie Alvarado, age 37, was discovered unresponsive with a sheet tied around her neck on July 19, 2020. It was her fourth day of incarceration in Bexar County Jail at 200 N. Comal in San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Alvarado was housed in a single-occupancy cell, and it was there that she was pronounced deceased by the Medical Director of the San Antonio Fire Department.

Several questions in the custodial death report (CDR) about Ms. Alvarado are specifically used to make a determination about housing and supervision. Yet, the answer to each of the following questions about the decedent at the time of her entry into the jail was “unknown:”

• Did she make suicidal statements?
• Did she appear intoxicated by drugs or alcohol?
• Did she exhibit any mental health problems?
• Were any medical problems exhibited?

There is no indication in the CDR as to whether Ms. Alvarado was being observed every 60 minutes, every half hour, or every 15 minutes. Heightened supervision is provided to at-risk inmates, such as those who are potentially suicidal or mentally ill.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this series.

Helping local Texas inmates by providing pertinent information is the purpose of this website. Suggesting that any organization or individual has participated in wrongs is never intended.

–Guest Contributor