Press Release: Kleberg County Jail Death Case Proceeds to Trial

Federal Court Refuses Again to Dismiss Case Against Kleberg County for Jail Death of 32-Year-Old Woman

For Immediate Release

Corpus Christi, Texas – 4/10/2026
32-year-old Cynthia Garcia had significant mental health issues and attempted suicide by taking a number of Olanzapine pills. Her mother called for help, and a Falfurrias police officer came to the scene. The officer had Cynthia Garcia transported to CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg for emergency treatment for an overdose. Ms. Garcia received an evaluation at the hospital. However, after allegations that Ms. Garcia refused medical treatment and assaulted nurses, emergency room staff called for law enforcement. A Kingsville police officer went to the hospital and arrested Ms. Garcia after the emergency room released her as being supposedly “medically cleared.” The officer expressed surprise more than once that she had been medically cleared, because Ms. Garcia was incoherent, could barely walk or stand, seemed to be going in and out of consciousness, and appeared to everyone at the scene as being in an altered mental status. A document from the emergency room indicated that Ms. Garcia needed to be monitored.

After Ms. Garcia arrived at the Kleberg County jail, jailers made fun of her, including of her weight. Cynthia was dropped into a padded cell, nude, and received no further treatment. She stayed in that cell for a few hours until she was found unresponsive. No monitoring occurred. Cynthia was pronounced deceased at CHRISTUS Spohn Corpus Christi Shoreline Hospital.

Constitutional rights lawyer Dean Malone and his team represent Cynthia’s mother and filed a federal lawsuit in Corpus Christi against Kleberg County and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg. Lawyers for Kleberg County asked the federal court to dismiss claims against the county. The court refused to dismiss the claims and signed a 15-page order.

Months later, after the parties engaged in discovery, the county once again sought to have the case dismissed to avoid a jury trial. The County filed a motion for summary judgment, asking the Court to determine that the County won the case without the need to have a jury trial. On April 7, 2026, in a 24-page order, the Court denied in its entirety the county’s summary judgment motion. A copy of that order is available at the link below.

Mr. Malone said, “It is beyond me why in cases like this, counties prolong the litigation process by not attempting early to settle under appropriate terms. Regardless, we will now get to see our day in court. A jury can review the facts of this case and decide the county’s liability for Cynthia’s suffering and death.”

Kleberg County Summary Judgment Denial (deanmalonelawfirm.com)

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