Bobbie Jo Thompson Dies After Being in Harris County, Texas Jail

The Harris County Sheriff’s Department, in Houston, Texas, filed a custodial death report regarding the death of Bobbie Jo Thompson. Ms. Thompson was 53 years old at the time of her death. We provide information obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone regarding Ms. Thompson’s death. The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On July 20, 2021, the decedent returned from her court setting and requested to see medical personnel, due to not feeling well. The decedent was assessed in the clinic for shortness of breath and was placed on oxygen. The Houston Fire Department transported the decedent to St Joseph Hospital to rule out COVID-19 and/or pneumonia. At 9:57 p.m., a medical provider pronounced death.”

Thus, the report does not provide any information regarding any pre-existing medical conditions which Ms. Thompson may have had, whether she had been observed for any such medical conditions, or whether she was receiving any treatment for ongoing medical conditions. The United States Constitution guarantees the right of pre-trial inmates in Texas county jails to receive reasonable medical care. If a person does not receive reasonable medical care, and dies as a result, then certain family members may be able to file a lawsuit for damages against a county and/or jailers.

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.