Inmate Alexander Winstel Suddenly Dies on His 4th Day in Harris County Jail
Forty-three-year-old Alexander Thomas Winstel was booked into the Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas, on June 19, 2025. Tragically, he died in the jail’s custody three days later. The Harris County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Winstel on July 24, 2025.
The CDR reflects that the intake process was incomplete. Three yes or no questions that would indicate Mr. Winstel’s condition when he entered the jail are answered “unknown,” those questions being whether he appeared intoxicated, whether he made suicidal statements, and whether he exhibited mental health problems. The answer is “yes” to whether he exhibited any medical problems.
Mr. Winstel was housed in a multiple occupancy cell. Everything disclosed in the CDR about what developments took place before he died is found in the summary of how the death occurred. On June 22, Mr. Winstel used the intercom to notify an officer that he was suffering from a medical emergency. Officers arrived at the cell, and Mr. Winstel became unresponsive. Lifesaving measures were initiated by medical staff, and he was moved to the jail’s medical clinic.
As lifesaving measures continued, the Houston Fire Department was contacted. After paramedics arrived, they assumed care of Mr. Winstel, who was transported by ambulance to an outside hospital. The care of Mr. Winstel was released to the hospital staff. At 7:00 a.m. that same day, a medical physician pronounced Mr. Winstel deceased.
The Harris County Jail facility where Alexander Winstel was housed is at 1200 Baker Street, Houston, TX 77002. The bed capacity of the Baker Street jail is 4,156. The inmate capacity of the entire Harris County jail system is 9,434.
Why is the Number of Inmate Deaths in Harris County so High in 2025?
So far, 12 inmates have died in Harris County Jail’s custody this year. Now, with five months left, the number of custodial deaths for 2025 already exceeds the total of 10 detainees who died in Harris County Jail in all of 2024. Is this spike in inmate deaths a normal fluctuation?
For the sake of the incarcerated, it is good to question whether Texas jails are handling their responsibilities according to state guidelines established by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). In this case, however, there is no comfort along those lines. Harris County Jail is currently listed three times for non-compliance on the TCJS website.
Every year since 2018, Harris County Jail has been cited for non-compliance after an inspection. The Houston jail has been cited for operational violations at least 17 separate times in the past eight years.
Seeking Justice After a Death in Jail Custody?
Being incarcerated should never mean losing fundamental civil rights. If you believe your loved one’s death while in a county or city jail was caused by medical neglect, abuse, or preventable circumstances, it’s crucial to act without delay. At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., we handle cases involving wrongful deaths behind bars—whether due to suicide, abuse, lack of medical care, or mishandled withdrawal situations. We work to hold jails and detention centers accountable for failures in care and oversight.
Our firm provides free consultations. Reach out by phone, text, or our secure online form to share your concerns—we are committed to protecting the rights of inmates and standing up for the families left behind.
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