Texas Inmate Joseph Garza Dies in an El Paso Hospital
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office filed a custodial death report (CDR) on October 31, 2025, to report a custodial death that occurred nine days earlier.
Joseph Victor Garza entered El Paso County Jail at 2:48 a.m. on October 22, 2025. Tragically, Mr. Garza died after only another nine hours. His cause of death is awaiting autopsy results, but the CDR indicates that he died of natural causes due to a pre-existing condition. Contrary to that statement, during his entry into the jail facility or at some time during the incident leading to his death, according to the CDR form, Mr. Garza did not exhibit any medical problems. He did, however, exhibit mental health problems and make suicidal statements.
The summary of how Mr. Garza’s death occurred conveys the following:
On October 22, 2025, at around 2:48 a.m., an individual identified as Inmate Garza was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.
Mr. Garza was placed in Cell M-03 inside the facility, which is a holding cell. At approximately 10:38 a.m., detention officers entered the cellblock to escort him to court and found him unresponsive and not breathing. A medical emergency was immediately called over the radio, and staff initiated emergency response procedures.
Personnel from the El Paso Fire Department arrived shortly after, with Rescue Unit 4 transporting Mr. Garza to University Medical Center on Alameda Avenue. Despite lifesaving efforts, Joseph Victor Garza was pronounced deceased at 11:19 a.m. on October 22, 2025, by a hospital physician.
The event was recorded on both security cameras within the facility and on the body-worn cameras of supervisors who responded. Authorities report that no foul play is suspected at this stage, and an investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to locate Mr. Garza’s next of kin.
El Paso County Jail, also known as the El Paso County Detention Center, is at 601. E. Overland, El Paso, Texas 79901. There are two jail facilities in El Paso County, and they have a combined inmate capacity of 2,592.
The address of the University Medical Center of El Paso is 4815 Alameda Ave., El Paso, Texas 79905.
Looking for Legal Assistance After Possible Jail Medical Neglect?
No one loses their fundamental rights because they are detained in a local jail facility. When detainees are denied necessary medical attention or suffer jail abuse, those failures must be addressed, and the responsible parties held accountable.
If you’ve lost a family member while they were jailed and believe that a lack of access to medical care played a part in their death, the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. may be able to provide assistance. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling in-custody death cases, including those involving suicide or medical neglect. We approach each case with passionate resolve, compassion, and a deep commitment to finding answers and achieving justice.
You can reach us at any time. To request a free consultation to discuss your legal options, call, text, or complete our secure online form.
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