On March 2, 2022, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in El Paso, Texas, filed a custodial death report on Robert John Barela. Mr. Barela took his own life by hanging himself from the ceiling with a sheet. He died at age 37 on February 23, 2022.

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) conducted a study on custodial suicide that encompassed the scrutinization of specific cases, including the following case involving an inmate outside Texas who took his own life.

Details of a Custodial Suicide

During booking, an inmate who died of suicide in a county jail outside Texas admitted that he had attempted suicide recently. He made light of it, saying it wasn’t a big deal. He also said he wouldn’t repeat an attempt at suicide. In spite of these claims that he made, a suicide risk assessment was given because the suicide attempt was recent. Yet, he denied that he currently engaged in suicidal ideation.

During his first two months of incarceration, he frequently behaved in a disruptive manner. For example:

• He would not allow the food slot to be closed.
• He would refuse to go back to his cell after recreation.
• He treated staff members in a belligerent and threatening way.
• He broke a cell window.
• He made superficial cuts to his wrist using a spork.
• He would make nooses and show the staff.
• Eventually, he began making threats about what he might do to himself.
• On the day he committed suicide, he spoke with two members of the mental health staff and appeared to be agitated, though he said he was unhappy about the plans to move him to another facility.

Learn more in Part 1 and this ongoing series.

This site never intends to imply that an individual or entity has been a participant in misdeeds. When posts are added, the purpose is to help Texas county jail inmates.

–Guest Contributor