Ariel Nicole Henley Dies After Dallas County, Texas Jail Incarceration

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, in Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Ariel Nicole Henley. Ms. Henley was only 25 years old at the time of her death. We provide information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The report indicates that Ms. Henley entered the Dallas County jail on September 23, 2022 at 6:12 p.m. The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On Friday, September 23, 2022, at approximately 6:12 p.m., Ariel Nicole Henley (W/F XX-XX-1996, 25 yoa) was booked into the Dallas County Jail at 111 W. Commerce St. City of Dallas, Dallas County, TX 75207, for a Dallas County Probation Violation – theft Property >=$2,500<$30K, warrant (F1648260J). HENLEY remained in the Dallas County Jail, BNO 22036587. On Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at approximately 5:02 p.m., HENLEY was reassigned to the North Tower Gill Hernandez Medical Facility, Unit NG03, Bed #8. On Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at approximately 6:30 p.m., HENLEY was lying on her bed when jail staff recognized that she was choking on what appeared to be blood coming from her mouth. Additional jail staff and facility medical staff responded. HENLEY was transported by ground ambulance to the Emergency Room at Parkland Memorial Hospital at 5200 Harry Hines Blvd., City of Dallas, Dallas County, TX 75235. On Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at approximately 7:46 p.m., Doctor Melissa Smith (PMH) pronounced Ariel Nicole Henley (W/F 12-04-1996, 25 yoa) deceased. On Thursday, October 6, 2022, a forensic autopsy was conducted at the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the findings are pending, IFS-22-19890-ME. DSO Service #22-053886.”

Oddly, in response to questions about whether Ms. Henley appeared intoxicated or exhibited medical problems, Dallas County responded “unknown.” Moreover, the report provides absolutely no information regarding Ms. Henley’s preexisting medical issues, whether and how often she was being checked, and whether she had any special problems which required close observation.

Inmates in Texas jails are entitled to receive reasonable medical care and to be protected from themselves and others. This protection comes from the United States Constitution. If jailers or medical personnel fail to provide reasonable medical care, and/or are deliberately indifferent to known serious medical needs, and a person dies in a Texas jail, then certain family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our firm has litigated and is litigating a number of such cases across Texas.

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.