Kyle George Wagner Dies in Travis County Jail

The Travis County Sheriff’s department, in Austin, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Kyle George Wagner. Mr. Wagner was 46 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“Kyle George Wagner W/M 12/27/XXXX was booked into the custody of Travis County S.O. on 8/8/2022 @ 0622 hrs. Wagner identified himself as a narcotic user (Heroin / Methamphetamine) and was placed on withdraw protocols. Wagner was housed on a medical post for medical observations. Wagner was found unresponsive by the post officer at about 1033 hrs on 8/9/2022. Life saving efforts were started and continued by EMS, but were unsuccessful. Wagner was pronounced deceased at 1118 hrs on 8/9/2022.”

Therefore, the report provides no information about how often, if at all, Mr. Wagner was observed by jailers before he was found unresponsive. Clearly, the jail was put on notice as to potential serious withdrawal issues, which can include injury and/or death.

Texas County jails have an obligation, pursuant to the United States Constitution, to provide medical care to detainees. If a detainee dies as a result of a failure to provide medical care, then certain surviving family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.