Billy Wayne Dunn Commits Suicide in Troubled Harris County Jail

The Harris County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report regarding the death of Billy Wayne Dunn. Mr. Dunn was only 47 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained from that report, and we make not allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On September 23, 2021, the decedent was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail. On September 28, 2021, detention staff was conducting visual observations of inmates inside cellblock 6L2 and observed the decedent with a sheet tied around his neck and the top of the cell door. Staff removed the sheet from the decedent’s neck, notified medical staff, and started CPR. Medical staff responded, continued CPR, and transported the decedent to the clinic. Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived, assumed care, and transported the decedent to St Joseph Hospital. Hospital staff continued CPR, and Dr. Shin pronounced death at 1:41 p.m.”

Oddly, in response to the field in the report which reads “make suicidal statements,” the Harris County Sheriff’s Department responded, “Unknown.” The Department also responded to the field asking whether Mr. Dunn exhibited any mental health problems with “Unknown.” The report even indicates that the County did not know whether Mr. Dunn exhibited any medical problems.

It is difficult to believe that the County did not know whether Mr. Dunn made suicidal statements, exhibited any mental health problems, or had any medical issues. If in fact the county was completely unaware of such issues, it may not have conducted a proper jail intake. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”) has a specified intake screening form. That form screens primarily for mental health issues, but it also screens for medical issues.

Harris County jailers recently sued the County as a result of working conditions in the jail. It appears that the Harris County jail has had significant issues for a period of time. Unfortunately, these issues could lead to serious injury and/or death of inmates.

The United States Constitution guarantees that pre-trial detainees receive reasonable medical care, receive mental health care, and be protected from their own suicidal tendencies. If a jail fails to fulfill these guaranteed rights, and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to bring claims related to the death. Our Texas jail abuse and neglect civil rights law firm frequently represents such family members.  When representing such family members, we file suit in federal court.

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.