Christopher Lee Beck was an inmate in Dewitt County Jail when he died on October 1, 2019. The preliminary autopsy indicates that he died of sepsis and subsequent findings support that theory. The results of the autopsy ultimately show that Mr. Beck died of peritonitis, which is caused by an infection.

The custodial death report (CDR) on Mr. Beck provides a detailed account of the investigation into his death. This includes the testimony of various witnesses who described the symptoms he demonstrated in the days leading up to his death. Many of them are symptoms of sepsis.

The following are among the symptoms of sepsis:

• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Shivering
• Fever
• Feeling very cold
• Disorientation or confusion
• Rapid breathing
• Rapid heart rate
• Sweaty or clammy skin
• A long-term effect of sepsis is a lack of appetite

The following are among the phrases witnesses used to describe Mr. Beck’s condition when he was near death:

• “Mr. Beck would not eat, would not talk…”
• “He looked sick, pale and at times was shaking as if he was ill.”
• “He observed Mr. Beck foaming at the mouth”
• “His wrist was colder than it should be.”
• “He (Mr. Beck) kept complaining of pain in his stomach.”
• A jailer said, “he will still sick and shaking…complaining of chest pain and stomach pain.”

This website seeks to provide helpful resources to inmates in municipal and county jails in Texas. There is never an intention on this site to insinuate that any person or organization has been involved in wrongdoing.

–Guest Contributor