McLennan County Jail Detainee Beauford Puryear Dies on 12/10/24
Beauford Puryear was booked into McLennan County Jail on November 12, 2024, two days before his 61st birthday. Tragically, he died less than a month later on December 10, 2024. The cause of Mr. Puryear’s death is unknown, per the custodial death report (CDR) that McClennan County Sheriff’s Office promptly filed on the same day the death occurred.
Mr. Puryear’s medical cause of death is unknown, but the CDR states that the deceased had a history of cardiac/hypertension issues. Also, the report reflects that the decedent died of a pre-existing medical condition.
Very little is said in the summary of how Mr. Puryear’s death occurred. In essence, he had a medical emergency during the passage of breakfast trays at 6:12 AM. Lifesaving measures began, and he was pronounced deceased the next hour at 7:44 AM on December 10, 2024.
The address of McLennan County Jail is 3201 E Highway 6 in Waco, Texas 76705. The jail’s inmate capacity is 1,678.
Jails Can Be Held Accountable for Preventable Suicides
A recent report reveals that there has been a dramatic increase in Texas prison suicides. The number of inmates who died by suicide has nearly doubled in the past four years. From 2005-2019, there was an average of 28.6 suicides. That number rose to 56 on average per year between 2020 and 2023. After the suicide of a 21-year-old woman, it was discovered that face-to-face observation rounds had not taken place as they were supposed to, which was every 30 minutes. Supervision is recognized as the greatest deterrent to suicide.
In Texas jails, the ratio of suicides is even higher than in prisons. Suicide is the leading cause of death in county and municipal jails across the nation. Oftentimes, similar situations occur regarding lack of supervision. The following is one tragic example:
- A 42-year-old white male was booked into a Texas county jail on May 14, 2020. When he was booked into the jail, a member of the booking staff noted that he made suicidal statements. The following day, jail staff noted that the man was agitated after making a phone call to his wife. He was placed in a “max cell” under 30-minute watch. Later that day, a jailer discovered that the man had used jail clothing to hang himself. Lifesaving measures failed, and he was pronounced deceased on May 16, 2020.
- A follow-up special jail inspection was conducted on May 21, 2020. Scrutiny of face-to-face observation checks revealed that they were not conducted as required in the holding and detox cells, where the deceased was housed. In addition, the jail staff had not been provided with suicide prevention training since March 2018.
The Texas jail staff knew that the man had made suicidal statements. There was also an awareness that he became agitated after a call with a family member. These red flags together with the fact that white males are most at risk for suicide suggest that, at the very least, supervision should have been provided at the minimum required.
Legal Help for Jail Neglect Cases: The Law Offices of Dean Malone
If you or a loved one has been impacted by neglect in a Texas jail, obtaining experienced legal representation is essential. At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we are dedicated to assisting families who have lost loved ones in Texas jails, potentially due to neglect or abuse, including cases involving suicides. We also encourage former inmates who have suffered serious injuries due to jail neglect or mistreatment to contact us for help.
Reach out to us today for a free case evaluation. Our team is available 24/7 by phone, text, or through our online form.
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