Lorelei Then Palmore Dies After Being in Grayson County Jail

The Grayson County Sheriff’s Department, in Sherman, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Lorelei Then Palmore. Ms. Palmore was 64 years old at the time of her death. We provide information in this post that 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:

“I/M Palmore was arrested by Tioga Police Department on 4/20/2022 at 9:48PM. She showed no signs or symptoms of distress. She completed her medical intake with Jail Medical staff and was housed 4/21/2022 at approximately 3pm. On 4/22/2022 at approximately 2:45am medical staff went to her housing unit to check on her at the request of the other inmates in the housing unit. I/M Palmore told medical that she was withdrawing from meth and was advised by medical staff to rest. On 4/22/2022 at approximately 5:15AM medical was called to her housing unit due to her vomiting’s blood. She was unresponsive to medical staff. Other inmates in the housing unit told officers and medical staff that she told them she (Palmore) had swallowed drugs before being arrested. She was taken via ambulance to Wilson N Jones hospital. Officer Charlotte Finke was the officer assigned to this inmate. Officer Finke was with her from her leaving the jail to go to the hospital until she was released from jail custody at 1330 on 4/22/2022. On 4/23/2022 at approximately 1230 Cpl. Max Moore received a phone call from a male who described himself as a family member of I/M Palmore. He was inquiring about her personal property. Cpl. Moore explained that her personal items were taken to the hospital, due to her no longer being in our custody. The family member informed Cpl. Moore that I/M Palmore passed away the night before (Friday night – Saturday morning).”

The report provides no information about how often Ms. Palmore was observed, whether cell checks were being conducted in accordance with Texas Commission on Jail Standards requirements, or other specific information about what Ms. Palmore exhibited regarding any medical issues.

The United States Constitution guarantees the right of pre-trial detainees held in county jails to receive reasonable medical care. If jailers are aware that a person is suffering serious medical issues and are deliberately indifferent to those issues, and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to bring a 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.