Inmate Dies at County Jail in Galveston, Texas
On November 15, 2017, Jerry Louise Hill passed away after being in the custody of the Galveston County Sheriff’s Department. Information in this post was obtained from a custodial death report filed by the Galveston County Sheriff’s Department with the Attorney General of Texas. We make no allegations of any wrongdoing in this post but are simply providing information based on that report.
The report indicates that Ms. Hill began her incarceration at the Galveston County, Texas Jail on August 8, 2017. Allegedly, on November 12, 2017, at approximately 9:36 p.m., while in the Galveston County Jail, Ms. Hill displayed signs of heavy breathing. An on-duty deputy contacted jail medical personnel for assistance. EMS was also called after jail medical personnel examined Ms. Hill. EMS transported Ms. Hill to the University of Texas Medical Branch (“UTMB”), and Ms. Hill was admitted to the ICU. Ms. Hill passed away three days later at UTMB.
Our firm has no information regarding the cause of death for Ms. Hill. However, heavy breathing is a symptom of a common problem in jails – sepsis. Sepsis is a serious illness that, if not treated properly and promptly, can cause death. There are a number of other sepsis symptoms, including confusion and low blood pressure. Jails should have in place specific criteria for determining whether inmates have sepsis, so that inmates can receive emergency medical treatment in a local hospital. Once again, as referenced above, we have no indication as to what caused Ms. Hill’s death, and are making no allegation that she died of sepsis. Information about sepsis in jails is provided simply as a public service.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone