Landon Davis Dies in Bell County Jail on 7/19/24
Landon Correll Davis was booked into Bell County Jail on November 7, 2023. Mr. Davis died in the jail on July 19, 2024, at 27 years of age. A custodial death report (CDR) was filed by the Bell County Sheriff’s Office
on August 12, 2024, under the direction of Sheriff Eddy Lange. Mr. Davis’s autopsy results are awaited, but the CDR shows that a pre-existing medical condition caused his death.
In the summary of how Mr. Davis’s death occurred, it says that after five days of complaints about constipation, he was brought to the infirmary on July 18. The next day at about 3:46 AM, jailer Margaret Watkins checked on Mr. Davis and saw that he was unresponsive and didn’t appear to be breathing. She also reported seeing that blood appeared to be coming from his mouth.
Lifesaving measures began and included efforts from medical staff and emergency medical services (EMS). The hospital was consulted, and lifesaving measures ceased in the cell. JP Coleman pronounced Mr. Davis deceased at 6:10 AM on July 19. The cell was secured, and the Texas Rangers and the Justice of the Peace were called.
The address of Bell County Jail is 111 West Central Avenue, Belton, Texas 76513. The jail has a 1,184-bed capacity.
Are Detainees in Texas Often Victims of Jail Medical Neglect?
More than 20 families joined forces a year ago to demand changes in the Texas county jail where their loved ones had died. Their open letter from the families and former inmates alleged a pattern of jail neglect. Twelve alleged victims suffered medical neglect and abuse in the jail.
The families pointed out that the jail had been in violation of minimum jail standards related to medical care for detainees three months earlier. The following were among the observations made by Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) inspectors:
Detainees at the jail were not seen by medical personnel within 48 hours, per the facility’s operational plan.
Five months ago, the jail was found noncompliant for its failure to follow doctor’s orders and provide medication to a detainee as directed. During the comprehensive re-inspection, it was discovered that the jail continues to fail to meet these requirements for inmate medical care.
Is Assistance Available for Medical Neglect Cases?
A recent study revealed that around 68% of detainees in county and city jails with chronic medical conditions do not receive proper medical care while incarcerated—a startling statistic. If you have experienced severe health issues due to medical neglect or any other form of neglect while in a municipal or county jail, or if a loved one has died as a result of such neglect in a U.S. jail, we encourage you to reach out to us. Our office has extensive experience handling jail neglect cases, with a dedicated team focused on jail death cases.
If we can assist with your situation, we are ready to help. We are available 24/7—contact us today by phone, text, or through our online form.
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