Denton County Inmate Thomas Johnson Dies in the Hospital
Thomas Preston Johnson entered Denton County Jail at the age of 72 on September 2, 2024. Sadly, Mr. Johnson died in the jail’s custody on August 3, 2025, shortly after his 73rd birthday. The Denton County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Johnson’s death on August 4, 2025. However, the summary of how his death occurred contains none of the customary details whatsoever.
The CDR does show that when he was booked into the jail, Mr. Johnson made suicidal statements and exhibited mental health and medical problems. He was housed in the jail’s infirmary, and he received treatment for the medical condition that caused his death after admission to the jail’s jurisdiction.
What is clear is that Mr. Johnson was moved to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital at 3001 IH-35 in Denton, but the date that he was transferred from the jail to the hospital is not included. Neither is anything mentioned about the circumstances that led to his being transferred from Denton County Jail to the hospital.
The following is the only information in the summary meant to tell what happened leading up to Mr. Johnson’s death:
- Mr. Johnson died at Presbyterian Hospital at 0852 on August 3rd, 2025. This was not unexpected, according to Dr. Khorsand, ICU physician. On 8/1/25, Dr. Khorsand reported that his condition was terminal. On 8/1/25, the Sheriff’s Office authorized the hospital to attempt to reach Mr. Johnson’s emergency contact.
The address of the Denton County Jail facility where Mr. Johnson was housed is 127 N Woodrow Ln # 300, Denton, TX 76205. The Denton County Jail system has a 1,107-bed capacity. Detention Center 1, the main jail, can house a maximum of 257 inmates plus 8 pods with a capacity of 384, which is a total inmate capacity of 641. Detention Center 2, where Mr. Johnson was housed, has an inmate capacity of 850.
Denton County Jail Was Cited for Noncompliance in Connection with 2 Inmate Deaths
The public records we’ve found about Denton County Jail being cited for noncompliance with rules of jail operation are dated March 2022 and October 2023. The most concerning element is that both notices of noncompliance cite a violation directly connected to a custodial death. The notes regarding supervision of inmates follow for 2022 and 2023, respectively:
- In reviewing video documentation, we discovered that, in holding cell 1, staff failed to observe the detainee in a face-to-face observation. Instead of looking at and seeing the inmate in the holding cell, jail staff simply scanned the electronic tag. The detainee suffered a medical emergency in the holding cell that resulted in death.
- Video and documentation were reviewed after a custodial death. The inspector discovered that the jailers made observation rounds but failed to look at the inmate face-to-face as minimum jail standards require.
Concerned That Jail Neglect May Have Caused a Loved One’s Death?
Correctional facilities have a legal duty to protect the well-being of every person in their custody. If you believe your family member’s death while incarcerated resulted from negligence—such as denial of medical care or mistreatment—it is important to act quickly. The Law Offices of Dean Malone is here to help.
Our firm has significant experience advocating for the rights of inmates and their families. We focus heavily on cases involving deaths in custody, including suicides and those caused by inadequate medical attention or other forms of neglect.
You don’t have to face this alone. Contact us anytime—day or night—via phone, text, or our secure online form to schedule a free consultation.
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