Taylor County Jail Inmate David Hunt Dies in 67 Hours
Fifty-three-year-old David Christopher Hunt was booked into Taylor County Jail at 8:00 PM on July 2, 2024. He was placed in a detox cell, where he was found unresponsive less than an hour later. Lifesaving measures began immediately, including using an automated external defibrillator (AED). Emergency medical services (EMS) arrived within 10 minutes. Paramedics took over efforts to revive Mr. Hunt and transported him to Hendricks Medical Center. Mr. Hunt was admitted as a patient, intubated, and provided with medical care. On July 4, he was removed from oxygen and life support and transferred to hospice care. Just 67 hours after being admitted into Taylor County Jail, Mr. Hunt was pronounced deceased on July 5.
On July 8, 2024, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Hunt. His cause of death is unknown, and the deceased was taken to the medical examiner in Fort Worth, Texas, for an autopsy. It indicates that when he went through intake, he appeared to be intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
The address of the Taylor County Detention Center aka Taylor County Jail is 910 S 27th St, Abilene, TX 79602. The bed capacity of Taylor County Jail is 826.
Taylor County Jail Experiences a Jail Population Boom Due to Drugs
In 2019, the sheriff of Taylor County Jail announced a proposal for a 212-bed jail pod for female prisoners. It had been increasingly necessary to send females to other cities because the 118 beds specifically for women at that time were insufficient.
The sheriff stated that, because of drug-related crimes, the jail experienced a population explosion. He mentioned that crimes associated with methamphetamine abuse, in particular, contributed significantly to the rise in the number of detainees in Taylor County Jail.
Do Jail Inmates in Withdrawal Get Appropriate Medical Care?
In the past decade or so, there has been a marked increase in the number of jail detainees with opioid and stimulant addictions. News stories throughout the U.S. reveal that inmates often die due to denial of medical care in jail.
In June 2024, a news story was published about a 29-year-old mother who went through heroin withdrawal while in an Ohio jail. For days, the jail failed to provide the drugs that would help with withdrawal symptoms. She died of dehydration after just six days of incarceration. It is not a mystery when an opioid addict in withdrawal dies from dehydration due to lack of necessary care. If left untreated, persistent vomiting and diarrhea, which are associated with opioid withdrawal, can result in death from dehydration.
Who to Contact About Deaths and Severe Injuries Due to Jail Neglect
If you suspect that a loved one died due to neglect or abuse while in a Texas jail, it is essential to seek experienced legal help. The Law Offices of Dean Malone have years of experience helping jail inmates and their families in their fight for justice. Our dedicated team focuses primarily on jail death cases. If you are a former detainee who has endured abuse, neglect, or medical negligence in jail and are now suffering from life-altering injuries, we urge you to contact us. For a free case review, reach out to us 24/7 by phone, text, or through our online form.
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