Nancy Crystal Lopez Dies After Incarceration in Atascosa County Jail
The Atascosa County Sheriff’s Department, in Jourdanton, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Nancy Crystal Lopez. Ms. Lopez was only 38 years old at the time of her death. We provide in this post 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:
“On 05/02/2023 decedent was arrested and booked into the Atascosa County Jail for Public Intoxication. When deputies arrested decedent a EMS unit was contacted and made scene, decedent refused medical assistance. The Jail Nurse assessed decedent and accepted her into the facility. Decedent was placed in a detox cell initially then placed in a holding cell. At around 5:17am 05/03/2023 decedent had what appeared to be a seizure while in the holding cell. Corrections Officers responded to the incident and placed decedent in a wheel chair, and put her in the open booking area while officers monitored her closely. Decedent was taken to the dress out area by officers due to her urinating on herself. After decedent was changed out, the shift supervisor made the decision to place the decedent in the safety cell. At approx. 6:00am decedent had what appeared to be another seizure. Decedent was watched closely by staff until she was moved from the safety cell at approx. 06:13am. Decedent appeared to be conscious moving her head and torso, while looking around the cell at approx. 06:35am. At around 07:03 decedent was sitting facing the door of the cell. At approx. 7:04am decedent appeared o have another seizure. At around 7:10am the shift supervisor called the day nurse to report the events involving decedent. At approx. 7:37am the day Jail Nurse checked on decedent. The nurse tried communicating with decedent and checked for a pulse and respirations. The nurse advised that decedent was not breathing and did not have a pulse. The nurse immediately asked officers to grab the AMBU bag Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7 while also instructing officers to call for an EMS. The nurse and shift supervisor began life saving measures. EMS arrived at the jail and was in route to the local hospital at 8:04am. Decedent was released to family once at the hospital. On 05/05/2023 the Jail Administration was advised that decedent had passed away.”
As is the case with so many jail death cases we see across Texas, Ms. Lopez was arrested only for Public Intoxication.
Texas jails are required to provide medical care to arrestees. When they fail to do so, and the failure is due to a policy, practice, and/or custom of a county, or the deliberate indifference and/or unreasonableness of jailers and/or medical personnel, and a detainee dies as a result, then certain family members may be able to bring a federal constitutional rights lawsuit. We are litigating several such cases across Texas.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone