Webb County, Texas, once again, has filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas. We make no allegation of any wrongdoing in this post, but instead are providing information contained in that report.
Pedro Serna, only 44 years of age, died on July 14, 2018. Mr. Serna had been originally incarcerated on July 11, 2018. One or more officers found Mr. Serna in his cell in apparent medical distress. Mr. Serna was ultimately transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased at approximately 4:35 a.m.
People in Texas jails who have not been convicted of any crime have a constitutional right to reasonable medical care. If a jail is aware that an inmate needs medical and/or mental health care, and the jail fails to provide it, then one or more jailers, and potentially the county or city running the jail, might have liability pursuant to a federal statute. We have no information that there is any such liability with regard to Mr. Serna, and we are unaware at this point as to the cause of his death. We are simply providing information regarding claims that some inmates in Texas, and/or their families, might have.
