David Lee Tumey was booked into Medina County Jail in Hondo, Texas, on February 10, 2022. He was found unresponsive at 8:00 pm on February 13, 2022, and was declared dead in his cell at 8:35 pm the same day. The custodial death report states that no apparent cause of death was discovered and the cause will, therefore, be determined by toxicology and autopsy results.

Custodial deaths in Texas are investigated by the Texas Rangers and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). The custodial death report on Mr. Tumey includes details of some investigative work a sergeant at the jail conducted. On the day after Mr. Tumey was pronounced dead, surveillance footage was obtained. From the wording of the report, the jailer was seeking clues that might be obtained from video footage in the violent cell where the deceased had been housed.

The sergeant states that video footage shows that the inmate was observed approximately every 20 minutes. This is within the minimum jail standards for face-to-face observations set by TCJS.

Inmate observation is essential to their safety. Ensuring that at-risk inmates are observed frequently, as required, was deemed important enough that installation of electronic devices was mandated for all county jails in the state. These cameras and other types of approved devices accurately record when a person has been outside a cell to conduct a visual check. Unfortunately, during jail inspections, many jails are discovered to be non-compliant in this area.

Learn more in this ongoing series.

On this website, there is no intention of implicating persons or entities in acts of wrongdoing. All posts on this site purpose to benefit inmates currently or previously detained in a Texas county jail.

–Guest Contributor