Ryan Adam Legg Dies After Being in Bexar County Jail – Outside Investigation Being Conducted

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, in San Antonio, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Ryan Anthony Legg. Mr. Legg was only 36 years old at the time of his 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:

“Deputy J. Espinoza #1433 observed inmate Ryan Legg leaning forward in the back of the cell, while conducting an observation check. When Deputy Espinoza opened the door, he observed inmate Legg had a sheet tied around his neck. Deputy Espinoza entered the cell and cut the sheet, which was attached to the light fixture. Deputy Espinoza cut the sheet from around the inmate’s neck, and immediately began conducting life saving measures (Chest compressions). SAFD arrived and continued life saving measures. MD Harper pronounced inmate deceased at 2306 hours.”

The report does not provide information about how often jailers were conducting cell checks or any detailed information regarding Mr. Legg’s mental status.

The United States Constitution requires jailers and others who have a person in custody to protect that person from self-harm. If they fail to do so, under certain circumstances, and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to bring a lawsuit in federal court

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.