Woman Dies in Liberty County Jail in Texas

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report regarding the death of Karin Melinda Garcia.  Ms. Garcia was 62 years old at the time of her death.  Information in this post regarding her death was obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing related to her death. 

The report is not well-drafted, to the extent it seeks to provide detailed information.  The report indicates that Ms. Garcia was originally incarcerated in the Liberty County jail on February 3, 2020, at 7:14 p.m.  Oddly, the report, when responding to questions about whether Ms. Garcia made suicidal statements, received medical treatment, and exhibited any medical problems, reads, “Unknown.” 

The summary portion of the report is likewise short and without details.  The entire summary reads:

“Decedent was found unresponsive in her jail cell. Medical aid was rendered but not successful. Decedent died in cell and autopsy was ordered. Autopsy results- CAUSE OF DEATH: Hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. CONTRIBUTORY CAUSE OF DEATH: Hepatic cirrhosis due to unknown etiology. MANNER OF DEATH: Natural.”

Thus, it is unknown what type of medical treatment, if any, Ms. Garcia received between February 3, 2020 and March 1, 2020 (the date of the incident).  Texas jails, to comply with constitutional standards, must provide reasonable medical care to inmates. 

Aside from Ms. Garcia’s death, the Liberty County jail, currently operated by The Geo Group, Inc., has failed inspections by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.  We are uncertain as to who operated the Liberty County jail, in Liberty, Texas, prior to The Geo Group, Inc.  Regardless, we have written in our blog on June 2, 2020, November 12, 2019, July 19, 2019, and May 7, 2019 regarding Liberty County jail inspections and a suicide (Cristian David Sarmiento).  Hopefully, the Liberty County jail will bring itself into compliance with Texas minimum standards and avoid any injury to and/or death of any prisoners.     

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.