A Midland County Detainee Dies After Denying Food for 10 Days-Pt.4

When John Michael Soza went through intake at Midland County Jail, he exhibited evidence of mental health problems, according to the custodial death report (CDR). He was 28 years old when he entered the Midland, Texas, jail, in June 2023. Jail records indicate that he refused to eat starting on about September 17, 2023, through September 25, apart from September 22. On the 25^th, his mental condition had deteriorated to the point that he became catatonic. On that day, he was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital. Mr. Soza was 29 years old when he was pronounced deceased at the hospital on October 15, 2023.

A Man Dies for Unknown Medical Reasons at Midland County Jail Continued

When Savion Vashon Hall got to the hospital, his breathing stopped, but the hospital staff resuscitated him. By court order, the jail staff released Mr. Hall from jail custody on July 11, 2019. Hospital personnel at an out-of-county hospital that Mr. Hall had been transferred to advised the Midland County Sheriff’s Office that he was pronounced deceased on July 19, 2019. His cause of death is unknown, as far as is indicated in the CDR.

Midland County Jail was cited for noncompliance twice this year, in April and October. Learn about the violation regarding restraints in the next segment. See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of 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