A Midland County Detainee Dies After Denying Food for 10 Days-Pt.2

The Midland County Sheriff’s Office filed a custodial death report (CDR) pertaining to 29-year-old John Michael Soza on October 19, 2023. Jail records showed that Mr. Soza refused food for about 10 days, beginning approximately on September 17^th. After being transferred to Midland Memorial Hospital on September 25, he was pronounced deceased while still in the care of the hospital on October 15, 2023.

A Detainee at Midland County Jail Commits Suicide

A tragedy occurred at Midland County Jail in Midland, Texas, in May 2019. Thirty-six-year-old Christopher Beau Duboise used a shirt to hang himself in a detox cell. This occurred despite suicide prevention guidelines set out by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS).

Mr. Duboise was arrested by the Midland County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken to Midland County Jail at 9:00 p.m. on May 23. During intake, as a result of the detainee’s answers to suicide screening questions, he was assigned to DETOX-D in the holding area. Face-to-face observation checks are required in holding cells and detox cells every 30 minutes or less.

According to the CDR prepared about the death of Mr. Duboise, he was checked on at 9:55 p.m. The officer asked if he needed water. The next check was at 10:12 p.m., and the officer discovered that Mr. Duboise was hanging by his neck from the handicap bar at the back of the cell.

See Part 1 and this continuing series.

Providing help to municipal and county detainees in Texas is one of the purposes of this website. There is no intention on this site to accuse any person or institution of unlawful activity.

–Guest Contributor

Written By: smchugh

smchugh