Daniel Ray Monroy Dies in Grayson County, Texas Jail
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Department, in Sherman, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Daniel Ray Monroy. Mr. Monroy was only 29 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:
“On February 9th, 2022 Ofc. Morris was assigned to first floor duties. Shortly after 1500 Ofc. Morris was completing an inmate general medical intake questionnaire as the call on the radio came out for immediate assistance to Separation Cell 11. Ofc. Morris responded as quickly as possible. As Ofc. Morris came to the separation hall Ofc. Hagemann was entering the cell. Ofc Morris followed. Ofc. Morris observed Inmate Monroy, Daniel So# XXXXX hanging from the air vent above the toilet. What appeared to be part of a bed sheet was around his neck and tied to the vent. Ofc. Hageman immediately attempted to cut him down. Ofc. Morris lifted Inmate Monroy by the torso and with Ofc. Hageman s assistance placed Inmate Monroy on his back onto the bed. Ofc. Hageman noticed a separate binding still around Inmate Monroy s neck. Ofc. Morris tilted Inmate Monroy s head back to gain access to the binding, Ofc. Hageman cut that binding off as medical entered the cell. Medical placed inmate Monroy on the floor and immediately began emergency care. Ofc. Morris stepped back to the corner of the cell to stay out of the way. Ofc. Morris pulled Ofc. Johnsons to the corner with him and took the cut down tool from her hand. Ofc. Morris directed Ofc. Johnson out of the room. The camera was brought to the cell and Ofc. Morris attempted to take pictures of the ligature marks on Inmate Monroy s neck. Ofc. Morris took pictures of the sheet hanging from the vent and from a distance showing the area around the toilet. Emergency personnel arrived and took over emergency procedures from jail medical staff. Ofc. Morris left the cell to prepare for transport. Ofc. Morris passed the cut down tool to Cpt. Bigham at the book in desk and went to get his phone for transport. As Ofc. Morris returned to the building he was instructed to trade places with Ofc. Woodard and report to second floor. An ambulance was immediately called and medical personnel transported Monroy to Wilson & Jones Hospital. Capt. Bigham contacted and informed her supervisor Chief Bennie. We then contacted the Texas Ranger Job Espinoza for investigation.”
The report says nothing about how often jailers were checking on and/or observing Mr. Monroy, what if anything Mr. Monroy said before he apparently committed suicide, or any other details of Mr. Monroy’s medical or mental health history. Jailers are required, pursuant to the United States Constitution, to provide reasonable medical care and mental health care to inmates, and to protect inmates from their suicidal tendencies.
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Department did not complete all fields in the custodial death report. The following fields were left blank: Intoxicated; Custody Code; Death Code; Medical Treatment Description; and Manner of Death Description. However, the field entitled “Make Suicidal Statements” was answered, “No.” However, the form indicated that Mr. Monroy exhibited mental health problems.
The United States Constitution requires jails to protect inmates from other inmates, and as well from their own suicidal and/or self-harm tendencies. If jailers are deliberately indifferent to a person with known mental health issues, and the person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to bring a lawsuit. Moreover, if a policy, practice, and/or custom of a county leads to death in jail, certain surviving family members may be able to assert claims against that county. These cases are usually filed in federal court.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone