Billy Joe Spann, age 50, entered Ochiltree County Jail in Perryton, Texas, on April 30, 2022, and was found dead in his cell 19 days later. The custodial death report (CDR) that the Ochiltree County Sheriff’s Department filed about Mr. Spann’s death indicates that he had a pre-existing medical condition and died of natural causes. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is listed as the manner of death, per preliminary autopsy results.

An Inmate in a County Jail Outside Texas Dies of Sepsis

A shocking and graphic video is currently posted on a social media site, and it depicts the final hours of a county jail inmate who died of sepsis. The 26-year-old turned himself in on an outstanding warrant, at the advice of his grandfather. The young man sought to get his life on track and to serve as a good example to his young son, who was a toddler at the time.

When the young man entered the jail, he was healthy. However, his condition quickly deteriorated. Jail staff diagnosed him with a dislocated rib and said he should stay in bed. A fellow inmate, however, said that he had to hand feed the ill inmate. The cellmate also helped him by allowing him to urinate in cups, which he would dump out.

When the inmate got to the point of begging for help, he was moved to an isolation cell to cool down. He begged for help repeatedly. He died soon after, all of which was captured on video. The cause of death, according to the medical examiner, was septic shock.

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

Helping city and county jail inmates in Texas by providing resources is the purpose of this website. There is no intention on this site to implicate persons or institutions in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor