Within 7 Days in a County Jail an Inmate Overdoses on Fentanyl Twice

In a jail outside Texas, an 18-year-old was booked on several charges and in under 24 hours was found unresponsive, pale, and dripping with sweat. When the late teen would not wake up, Narcan was administered to him repeatedly. He didn’t regain consciousness until he had been given nine doses of Narcan.

The teen was transported to a local hospital, after which a pill that officers recognized as fentanyl was found in his cell. According to the CDC, fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine.

The teen returned to the jail after a day in the hospital. He was placed in the jail infirmary until he was considered stable enough to be released to a single occupancy detox cell. A few more days passed, and the 18-year-old again acquired a dose of fentanyl. Guards allegedly walked past his cell as he lay undisturbed in his bunk. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the young man could not be revived. He died less than a week after being booked into the jail.

Moore County Jail is Allegedly Noncompliant in Detox Cell Observations

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has specific requirements for observing inmates held in detoxification cells. In a jail inspection report dated September 6, 2022, TCJS cites Moore County Jail in Dumas, Texas, for alleged noncompliance with this standard.

Learn more in Part 1 and this continuing series.

There is no intention on this site of making accusations against persons or entities. This website purposes to provide helpful resources for the benefit of municipal and county jail inmates detained in local Texas jails.

–Guest Contributor