Thirty-eight-year-old Nancy Crystal Lopez was booked into Atascosa County Jail at 5:28 PM on May 2, 2023. She died in the jail’s custody on May 5 at 12:15 AM, less than 56 hours later. The address of Atascosa County Jail is 1108 Campbell Ave., Jourdanton, Texas 78026.

An Inmate in a County Jail Dies of Alcohol Withdrawal

A 37-year-old man who was booked into a county jail outside of Texas was well known for his alcohol dependency. He had been detained at the jail several times, and each time he was placed on alcohol withdrawal and detoxification treatment. However, on the latest occasion, he was not placed on alcohol detoxification protocols, nor was he monitored or assessed for alcohol withdrawal while waiting for the completion of the intake process.

This jail had been cited by a federal agency for a chronic shortage of medical personnel and medical treatment areas that were in dirty, cluttered, and sometimes filthy conditions.

The inmate reportedly told the intake nurse about his history of alcohol abuse and alcohol withdrawal. Having not received treatment for alcohol intoxication, two days later he had a seizure and died.

Diagnosing alcohol intoxication can include admitted or known alcohol ingestion, behavioral changes, slurred speech and other clinical signs, memory loss, incoordination, and nystagmus, which is defined by abnormal, involuntary eye movements.

Learn more in this ongoing series.

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–Guest Contributor