Darlene Francis Dies After Incarceration in Bexar County Jail

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, in San Antonio, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Darlene Francis. Ms. Francis was 53 years old at the time of her 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 06/30/2023, at approximately 907 hours, while conducting an observation check, Unit AC Dep. K. Vasquez #2094 observed Inmate Francis, Darlene #XXXXXX (AC26) lying face down on the floor of her cell. She opened the door and checked on the inmate, verbally, and by shaking her; but she was unresponsive. A Code 1 (Medical Assistance required) was immediately initiated. Registered Nurse J. Hogan was in the unit and responded to the area of the inmate and determined that a Code 1 Blue (Medical Emergency) was needed. A Code 1 Blue was initiated at 0909 hours. Rn Hogan began chest compressions. Special Emergency Team (SERT) Dep. D. Sollohub #2074 responded and assisted with moving the inmate (to create more room to perform chest compressions) and then took over chest compressions. Additional medical personnel arrived and took over life saving measures. Upon arrival of the San Antonio Fire Department, they took over life saving measures. At 0942 hours, the inmate was pronounced deceased by Dr. Cooley, UTHSCSA Medical Director.”

The report provides no further information about what led to Ms. Francis’ medical issues, or whether she was receiving ongoing medical treatment. Oddly, in response to the question about whether Ms. Francis exhibited any medical problems, the report said, “Unknown.” The report also indicates that Ms. Francis was originally incarcerated in the jail at 10:39 p.m. on June 28, 2023. 

Our law firm recently filed a case against Bexar County for the death of a young man in its jail. Bexar County has seemingly had significant issues in its jail over a number of years. The United States Constitution requires Bexar County, and other Texas counties, to protect detainees in their jails. If a county’s policies, practices, and/or customs, or its conditions of confinement, result in the death of a detainee or inmate, and there is a violation of the United States Constitution, then certain surviving family members may be able to bring a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our firm is litigating a number of such cases across Texas and is experienced in doing so.

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.