After Code 1 Blue was initiated for Bexar County Jail inmate Darlene Francis, an RN began applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A deputy at the San Antonio, Texas, jail assisted the RN in moving Ms. Francis to create more room to perform chest compressions. The deputy then took over CPR. First, additional medical personnel arrived and took over lifesaving measures and then the San Antonio Fire Department arrived and took over measures to save Ms. Francis’ life. Sadly, at 9:42 AM on June 30, 2023, 53-year-old Darlene Francis was pronounced deceased by Dr. Cooley, “UTHSCSA Medical Dire,” per the custodial death report.

Concealed Records Related to a Custodial Death Were Finally Released

An 18-year-old man was arrested by police officers in a small Texas town, and he died within hours after his arrest. The young man had been having a “bad LSD trip” and was reportedly extremely agitated. Two hours later, he was rushed to the hospital. Tragically, he died the next morning from severe head trauma.

Certain laws made it almost impossible to obtain records of the young man’s last hours spent in the custody of the police. There was a long, arduous struggle before his parents finally saw video footage that captured their delirious son striking his head against the interior of the police cruiser.

They discovered that he had been placed in a restraint chair and in a padded cell. But in the sally port, because the man wasn’t properly restrained, he continually struck his head against the pavement. Medical assistance was not requested until he was later discovered unresponsive in his cell.

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

Providing Texas jail detainees and their families with helpful resources is one of the purposes of this website. This website never intends to suggest that persons or organizations have been participants in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor