On September 14, 2023, the Randall County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report about 39-year-old Clayton Shennum. Mr. Shennum died on August 14, 2023, after hanging himself in the shower using a mattress cover. He had been in the jail since July 31, 2023. At the time of booking, he did not make any suicidal statements.

The Family of a Suicide Victim in a County Jail Outside Texas Seeks Answers Continued

An investigation into the woman’s death revealed disturbing video footage. At 1:51 p.m. on the day of her death, the woman is seen using her jail uniform to fashion a ligature. She tested it around her neck as she was sitting on the bottom bunk. She proceeded to test the ligature several times. She then moved to the next set of bunk beds. She climbed the ladder to the top bunk where she appeared to attach the ligature to the railing before stepping back down.

During this time, she had a blanket draped like a cape over her body. This partially or fully obscured the ligature from camera view. At 2 p.m., she can be seen on the video taking a plastic chair into the bathroom area with the ligature attached to her neck but partially obscured by the blanket draped over her.  

Learn more in Part 1 and this continuing series.

Providing helpful information for detainees in county and city jails in Texas is one of the purposes of this website. There is never an intention of accusing a person or entity of wrongdoing on this site.

–Guest Contributor