Billy Joe Spann Dies in Ochiltree County, Texas Jail – Texas Rangers Investigate

The Ochiltree County Sheriff’s Department, in Perryton, Texas, filed a report with the Attorney General of Texas regarding the death of 50-year-old Billy Joe Spann. We provide in this post 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:

“On 05192022, at approximately 11:18am Cpt. Thomas Morris found Inmate Billy Spann deceased in his cell. Cpt. Morris Contacted Chief Deputy Wayne Floyd, who in turn contacted the Justice of the Peace, William (Bucky) Goldsberry. Mr. Spann was pronounced deceased by the JP at 11:31am on 05192022. Mr. Spann was in a single cell, #251A, at the time of his death. Texas Ranger Sgt. Mike Smith was contacted to investigate the death. Preliminary Autopsy results listed the Manner of Death as Natural, and the Cause of Death as Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”

Preliminary autopsy results can be important, as a general matter, but as our jail neglect law firm has learned, an autopsy generally cannot arrive at a conclusion regarding a cause of death unless and until toxicology results are obtained. It appears from the short time between Mr. Spann’s death and the Ochiltree County Sheriff’s Department filing the custodial death report would not allow for a forensic pathologist to obtain toxicology results.

The report also indicates that the offense for which Mr. Spann was arrested was possession of a controlled substance less than 1 gram. The report also indicates that he appeared intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol. The report provides no information regarding whether arresting officers or anyone at the jail obtained a medical evaluation of Mr. Spann before incarcerating him. The report also provides no information about how often, if at all, Mr. Spann was observed or checked on after arrest or in the jail.

The United States Constitution guarantees the right of detainees in Texas jails to receive reasonable medical care. If arresting officers, jailers, or others with custody of a person refused or failed to obtain needed medical care for a serious issue, and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to file a lawsuit.

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.