Man Commits Suicide in Maverick County (Eagle Pass), Texas Jail
The Maverick County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas, regarding the death of Justin Sirio. Mr. Sirio was only 30 years of age at the time of his death. We make no allegation of any wrongdoing in this post against anyone related to Mr. Sirio’s death. Instead, we are only providing information contained in that report.
Mr. Sirio was arrested and/or incarcerated at approximately 7:00 p.m. on March 10, 2020. On Thursday, March 12, 2020, at approximately 9:45 p.m., while conducting a pill call, a jailer entered Cell 6 and observed the first cell closest to the window with a blanket covering the door. The jailer gave orders to the inmate inhabiting the cell to remove the blanket. When the inmate did not respond, the jailer entered the cell and discovered Mr. Sirio.
Mr. Sirio had used a mattress cover to hang himself from the ventilation system. The jailer immediately asked for backup over the radio. EMS were also contacted. Mr. Sirio was transported to an emergency room at Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center. Mr. Sirio was unfortunately pronounced deceased by Judge Smith.
The Texas Rangers are investigating Mr. Sirio’s death. This is typical in Texas when an inmate dies under circumstances like Mr. Sirio did. Texas Rangers investigate any potential criminal acts resulting in someone’s death. Texas Rangers do not conduct investigations to determine whether anyone has civil liability for the death of a pre-trial detainee in a Texas county jail.
The United States Constitution protects the rights of pre-trial detainees to receive reasonable medical and mental healthcare, and to be protected from themselves and others. If jailers act in an objectively unreasonably manner, or are deliberately indifferent to known issues with an inmate. Then they, and potentially their employer if other factors are in play, can be liable to certain family members who survive a deceased prisoner.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone