Two El Paso County Jail Inmates Commit Suicide Within 4 Months in 2022

Robert John Barela was 37 years old when he was incarcerated in El Paso County Jail in El Paso, Texas, from February 10, 2022, to the day of his death, which was 13 days later. When Mr. Barela was booked into the jail at 601 E. Overland St, El Paso Texas 79901, the booking officer noted that he did not make a suicidal statement. He did not exhibit mental health problems, either. He was placed in a single-occupancy cell.

In the custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Barela, the summary of how the death occurred indicates that officers were conducting security checks when they observed that he was hanging by his neck from the ceiling. A sheet had been used, but details don’t include what exactly the sheet was secured to. After lowering Mr. Barela to the floor, first aid immediately began to be administered. Medical personnel at the jail arrived on the scene and continued providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the arrival of emergency medical technicians. There is no indication of the date or time when these activities occurred.

Mr. Barela was transported to a local hospital, where he was declared deceased at 1:40 PM on February 23, 2022.

Andres Linares Baca is the other El Paso County Jail inmate referred to in this segment, and details will be provided in the next installment of the series.

See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, and this ongoing series. 

This site exists as a resource to help local jail inmates in Texas, whether city or county jails are currently or were previously detained. Implicating people or organizations in connection with misdeeds is never an intention.

–Guest Contributor