On July 8, 2024, two days after her 37th birthday, Mary Ann Mayfield went through Bell County Jail intake. Ms. Mayfield died in the custody of the jail on the afternoon of July 19, 2024. Under the direction of Sheriff Eddy Lange, a custodial death report (CDR) was filed by the Bell County Sheriff’s Office on August 12, 2024. The CDR of another detainee who also died in Bell County Jail on July 19 was filed that day, as well. The other deceased inmate was a 27-year-old male. Both had been in the infirmary when they were found in an unresponsive state.
The CDR does not specify what Ms. Mayfield’s medical needs were, resulting in her being transferred to the jail’s infirmary on July 15. Amidst other details about jailer Caprica Brooks, who was providing cleaning supplies to other inmates at 10:26 PM, it says she heard Ms. Mayfield snoring and also noticed that she stopped snoring as she exited the cell. The CDR ultimately says that, minutes after leaving the cell, detainees banged on the door to report that Ms. Mayfield was not breathing. Jailer Brooks returned to the cell, where she found Ms. Mayfield chest-down on the bed, facing the back wall.
At 10:29 PM, Jailer Brooks and medical staff entered the cell, and a medical emergency was called. Lifesaving measures began and included the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and “all other medical treatment.” Emergency medical services (EMS) were called, and they found a weak pulse and transported Ms. Mayfield by ambulance to Baylor Scott & White Hospital. She was pronounced deceased at 4:44 PM. The cause of death awaits pending autopsy results, but the CDR indicates that Ms. Mayfield died of natural causes and also shows that it was a pre-existing medical condition.
Bell County Jail has an inmate capacity of 1,184. The address is 111 West Central Avenue, Belton, Texas 76513.
Texas Has a History of Jail Suicides
The leading cause of death in local and county jails in Texas and throughout the U.S. is suicide. Bell County Jail contributes to that statistic, as do many others. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) provides the minimum jail standards by which jails in Texas must operate, and they include establishing a suicide prevention plan and providing training to all jail staff. Some details about two tragic suicides of young men that took place in Bell County Jail follow:
- A 23-year-old detainee was found hanging in a holding cell on the same night he had been booked into the jail. His manner of death, which occurred eight days later, was listed by the medical examiner as suicide by hanging.
- The CDR about a 24-year-old man who died by suicide at Bell County Jail shows that he made suicidal statements when he went through intake. He hung himself two days later in the multiple-occupancy cell where he was housed. However, his death came two months and two days after his suicide attempt. The medical examiner showed the following as the cause of death:
- 1. Respiratory Failure (35 days)
- 2. Asphyxiation (mins.)
- 3. Hanging by Ligature (mins.)
Seeking Justice for a Death Due to Jail Neglect
Incarceration does not strip individuals of their civil rights. If you believe that your loved one passed away in a U.S. jail due to medical neglect, it is crucial to act swiftly. Contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone as soon as possible. Our dedicated team focuses on custodial death cases. We also assert the rights of former detainees who have suffered life-altering injuries while incarcerated. Reach out to us today by phone, text, or through our online form. We are deeply committed to inmates’ rights and are available 24/7 to assist you.
