Kaufman County Jail Inmate Kent Cottrell Jr. Dies at 42
Kent Sylvester Cottrell, Jr. entered Kaufman County Jail on April 26, 2025. He was found unresponsive in single-occupancy cell A10B5 at 4:36 PM on May 1, 2025. Lifesaving measures began, including being transported via ambulance to Presbyterian Hospital of Kaufman, where Mr. Cottrell was deceased on arrival.
A custodial death report (CDR) indicates that Mr. Cottrell was only 42 when he was pronounced deceased at 5:52 PM on May 1, 2025. The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department filed the CDR with the Office of Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas, on May 5, 2025. It showed that Mr. Cottrell appeared intoxicated by alcohol or drugs and exhibited mental and medical problems. There is no listed cause of death. The question about whether he made suicidal statements was oddly answered as “unknown.” Even so, there is no indication in the report that he died by suicide. Rather, it appears that he might have died as a result of a medical condition.
Our jail neglect law firm is currently litigating a case against Kaufman County as a result of a death by suicide. Suicide prevention should be at the forefront in assessing every detainee because it is the leading cause of death among inmates in county and municipal jails. Through appropriate training, a qualified intake officer should be able to identify whether statements may or may not be potential indicators of a detainee’s risk for suicide.
Kaufman County Jail is at 1900 E US Hwy 175 in Kaufman, TX 75142. It has a 137-bed capacity.
How Common are Withdrawal Deaths of Inmates in City and County Jails?
Generally, and without regard to Mr. Cottrell’s death, according to a 2020 study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), drugs and alcohol are the third leading cause of jail deaths. Alcohol and opioid withdrawal are believed to be significantly under-represented contributors to deaths in local jails. The way jails categorize deaths can fail to reflect the awful realities associated with painful withdrawal deaths that are often allegedly preventable.
One day is the median length of stay before an inmate dies in jail from drug or alcohol intoxication. This statistic is strongly suggestive of the need to take lifesaving actions early when detainees are at risk for deadly withdrawal symptoms.
Substance withdrawal can occur when there is an abrupt halt to an individual’s access to their drug of choice. One statistic out of Pennsylvania county jails indicated that a record 81% of the detainees in a certain county jail required detoxification services, and 50% of them were for disorders involving opioid use.
Are You Suffering from the Effects of Jail Neglect?
Local jails have a legal responsibility to protect the well-being of every person in their custody. If a family member suffered serious harm and died due to jail neglect, such as being denied necessary medical treatment, the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. may be able to help.
Our firm is deeply committed to advocating for the rights of inmates and their families. We have considerable experience handling cases where neglect in jail led to death, including death by suicide. If you believe a loved one’s passing while in custody may have resulted from negligence, we are here to explore your legal options and help pursue justice.
Free, confidential case evaluations are available. You can reach us by phone, text, or our online form.
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