Hidalgo County Inmate Lievan Aguirre Dies in an Edinburg, Texas, Hospital
Lievan Lucero Aguirre, 36, went through intake in Hidalgo County Jail on November 21, 2025. Tragically, Mr. Aguirre died while still in the Edinburg jail’s custody 11 days later, on December 2, 2025. On the same day, a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Aguirre was filed by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
Mr. Aguirre’s cause of death is unknown and pending autopsy results. Questions typically asked during the intake process are all answered with “unknown.” Therefore, the CDR doesn’t indicate whether Mr. Aguirre made suicidal statements, appeared to be intoxicated on drugs or alcohol, or exhibited mental or health problems before or while he was being booked into the jail. He was housed in a single-occupancy cell, and Mr. Aguirre was under the restraint of handcuffs in the time leading up to his death or the events causing his death.
The following is conveyed in the summary of how Mr. Aguirre’s death occurred:
According to information released by Hidalgo County officials, an inmate identified as “Liban Aguirre” became unresponsive shortly after being placed in restraints during the early morning hours of December 2. At approximately 12:41 a.m., the Hidalgo County Communications Division received notice from the jail that correctional staff had initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an effort to revive him.
MedCare Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived at the facility and transported Mr. Aguirre to Edinburg Regional Hospital for emergency medical care. Despite those efforts, a Justice of the Peace later pronounced Lievan Aguirre deceased at 1:17 a.m. on December 2, 2025. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is expected.
Deaths occurring during or following restraint procedures–whether with handcuffs, restraint chairs, or other forms of restraint–often raise important legal questions about custodial care, monitoring, and the use of force within Texas detention facilities.
Hidalgo County Jail is at 701 E El Cibolo Rd, Edinburg, Texas 78541, and is also known as the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center. The total inmate capacity of the Edinburg jail is 1,232.
Understanding How Fatalities Can Occur During or After Handcuff Restraint
Deaths involving restrained individuals are a recognized risk in law enforcement and correctional settings, and several medical and situational factors can contribute to these tragedies. One known danger is positional asphyxia, which can occur when a person’s restrained posture—especially in a prone, face-down position—limits the ability to breathe effectively.
In other situations, the intense physical stress of a struggle combined with restraint, such as in a restraint chair, can lead to cardiac arrest. Limited mobility while handcuffed may also increase the risk of blood clots, and an individual who vomits while unable to reposition themselves may suffer a fatal aspiration event. Additionally, underlying or untreated medical conditions, including respiratory or cardiac issues, can worsen rapidly when a person is restrained.
Inadequate monitoring or delayed medical intervention can further elevate the risk. When force is used or when medical needs go unaddressed during restraint, those failures may directly contribute to an in-custody death.
The following are three of many tragic incidents in county jails that involved restraint:
- Albert Lee Cothran was discovered deceased in a restraint chair in Florida’s Columbia County Detention Center in 2001.
- Following a suicide attempt, Stacie Black claims to have been held in a restraint chair in Wayne County Jail for 28 days.
- Michael L. Moore, while incarcerated in Kentucky’s Boyd County Jail, was discovered deceased in a restraint chair. An investigation revealed that his death resulted from abuse by five deputies who were eventually indicted.
Looking for Legal Help After Possible Jail Neglect or Abuse?
A jail sentence—whether in a city or county facility—does not erase a person’s constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties. When someone in custody is harmed because staff ignored evident medical needs, failed to monitor them properly, or allowed unsafe conditions to persist, those lapses may constitute serious violations that require legal action.
If your loved one died while incarcerated and you believe inadequate care, neglect, or other misconduct contributed to the outcome, the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. may be able to assist. Our firm concentrates on in-custody death litigation, including cases involving medical negligence, failures in suicide prevention, and systemic breakdowns inside Texas jails. We work to uncover the facts, protect your family’s rights, and pursue accountability where it is warranted.
You can reach us 24/7. Call, text, or submit a message through our secure online form to request a free and confidential review.
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