Robert Cantu Dies in Bexar County, Texas Jail in San Antonio

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, in San Antonio, filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas regarding the death of Robert Cantu. Mr. Cantu was only 43 years old at the time of his death. We provide information in this post obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

            The summary portion of the report reads in it’s entirety:

“On 09/21/2020 at approximately 1014 hours, Officer D. Garcia #4117 arrived to unit AE to take Inmate Cantu to medical. Inmate Cantu was unresponsive to Unit Officer R. Flores’ attempt to contact him via the intercom. Officer Flores reported to the Inmate’s assigned cell (AE08) to wake him up and found him unresponsive. Officer Flores initiated a Code 1 Blue as Officer Garcia began chest compressions. CODE 1 Blue in AE announced by Master Control at approximately 1015 hours. Medical responded and took over CPR. At approximately 1027 hours, San Antonio Fire Department EMS arrived. Inmate Cantu was pronounced dead at approximately 1039 hours by Medic Daniel King #1400.”

The report obviously provides little information regarding medical issues which Mr. Cantu had, or how or when he had been observed, if at all, prior to needing medical attention. Texas jail inmates have the right to receive reasonable medical care and mental health care, such rights arising under the United States Constitution. If a prisoner dies as a result of not receiving appropriate medical care, then jailers who were deliberately indifferent, or counties who have a policy, practice, and/or custom which lead to the death, may be liable to certain surviving family members.

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.