Woman Detainee Death – Randall County, Texas Jail

The Randall County Sheriff’s Office, in Amarillo, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Michele Allen. Ms. Allen was 51 years old at the time of her death. We provide 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:

“On August 11th 2023, at approximately 1:20am Officer Wheeler was conducting wellness checks in 1-B pod when he arrived at Allen’s assigned cell (6) he noticed that Allen was laying on the floor. Allen was initially responsive to Officer Wheeler’s questions but quickly became unresponsive. Officer Wheeler called via radio for our medical staff and additional officers to respond. Upon the arrival of additional Officers, officers entered the cell and began providing medical aid to Allen. Cpl. Sarver requested an ambulance. Allen was placed in a wheelchair and was taken to Medical. The ambulance arrived and Allen was taken to Northwest Texas Hospital. At approximately 2:15am Amarillo Police Department relieved our officer and took possession of Allen, in accordance with our contract. At approximately 4:45am, the Amarillo Police Department notified us that Allen had passed away. Potter County Justice of Peace Thomas Jones recorded the time of death was at 4:17am and ordered an autopsy. This in custody death is being investigated by Texas Ranger Scott Swick.”

The report admits that Ms. Allen’s cause of death was the result of a condition that developed after she was admitted into the Randall County jail. Oddly, it also notes that she did not exhibit any medical problems. 

The 14^th Amendment of the United States Constitution requires jails and jailers to provide reasonable medical care to inmates.  If jailers or medical personnel fail to provide reasonable medical care, and/or are deliberately indifferent to known serious medical needs, and a person dies, then certain family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our firm has litigated and is litigating a number of such cases across Texas.

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.