Bexar County Jail Detainee Dies – Diabetes and Open Wound

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, in San Antonio, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Ed Penix. Mr. Penix was 63 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“Inmate Penix was housed in the infirmary due to being diabetic, lower extremity weakness and open wound. He was found to be sweaty with low blood sugar and medical was preparing for transport to the emergency room for higher level of care. The nurse practitioner found inmate Penix unresponsive, and a Code 1 Blue (immediate medical emergency) was initiated. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation was initiated immediately. San Antonio Fire Department personnel arrived and continued lifesaving procedures. Inmate Penix was pronounced deceased at 0338 by Medical Director Winkler.”

Although the report does note that Mr. Penix was housed in the infirmary, it provides no information regarding what medical treatment he was receiving prior to being found unresponsive.

The United States Constitution requires Texas jails to provide reasonable medical care to arrestees. If jailers fail to provide reasonable medical care to an inmate or arrestee, and the inmate or arrestee dies as a result, then a federal civil rights lawsuit may be filed. Our jail medical neglect law firm is asserting such claims 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.