Category: Medical Care

Clayton Lamar Shennum entered Randall County Jail in Amarillo, Texas, on July 31, 2023. Approximately two weeks later, on August 14, 2023, he was found with a mattress cover tied around his neck in his cell shower. He was unresponsive. Although lifesaving measures began almost immediately, Mr. Shennum died that day at 39 years of age.

A County Jail Detainee Outside Texas is Found Deceased

In early September 2023 news, a detainee in an Idaho county jail was found deceased in his cell. The sheriff’s office reported that the detainee had been discovered hanging in his cell. He had made a makeshift ligature out of a bedsheet. Deputies immediately began lifesaving measures and called for emergency medical services (EMS).

The detainee’s pulse was restored before he was transported to a nearby hospital. He remained on life support for about one week before being pronounced deceased. The age of the individual was not shared in the news report, but it mentioned that he had been in the county jail just since September 1, 2023.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Idaho is ranked 12^th in the U.S. for having the highest suicide rate in local jails. Traction has been made in raising suicide awareness in recent years, according to a local sheriff.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this five-part series.

Providing helpful information for detainees in county and city jails in Texas is one of the purposes of this website. There is never and intention of accusing a person or entity of wrongdoing on this site.

–Guest Contributor

The following are more details about John David Snell in the custodial death report (CDR) prepared by the Garza County Sheriff’s Office in Post, Texas. It continues with details that occurred on June 24, 2023. At about 9 p.m., after Sergeant Perez reviewed the camera in cell 188, Sgt. Perez told Captain Copeland that Mr. Snell had passed out and hit his head on the wall in the cell at 2:40 p.m. Sgt. Perez stated that the detainee called on the emergency intercom and stated he needed medicine for a headache at about 3:14 p.m.

Next, on Sunday, June 25, 2023, the neurologist at Covenant Hospital stated that he did not think Mr. Snell was going to recover from his injury and he stated that his brain had swelled for too long before the surgery. At approximately 2:30 p.m., the Borden County Judge signed an order to release custody for Mr. Snell so his family could take over the direction of his care. On July 12, 2023, the Medical Examiner’s Office in Lubbock, Texas, informed Garza County that Mr. Snell had passed away at 3:09 that day.

In other posts in this series, Juan Raul Garcia, Jr. was the detainee who died in the custody of the Garza County Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Garcia died on February 9, 2018.

Garcia County Jail is Found Noncompliant

On September 27, 2022, a notice of non-compliance was sent to Garza County Jail regarding a jail inspection report that was issued on September 26, 2022. Garza County Jail was found non-compliant with three minimum jail standards.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this continuing series.

One purpose of this website is to provide helpful resources for detainees in Texas county and city jails. There is never an intention on this site of suggesting that any person or entity has been involved in wrongdoing.

–Guest Contributor

The Garza County Sheriff’s Office, in Post, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of John David Snell. Mr. Snell was 51 years old at the time of his death. We provide in this post 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 Saturday June 24, 2023, approximately 17:00 hours, inmate John D. Snell was found unresponsive in cell 188. Sergeant Perez entered cell 188 and called inmate Snell’s name several times with getting no response from him. Sergeant Perez tried multiple times to wake inmate Snell up but was unsuccessful. Sergeant Perez exited cell 188 to call for EMS. At approximately 17:20, EMS arrives at the facility and takes control of the situation. At approximately 17:35, inmate Snell is loaded into the ambulance and taken to Covenant Hospital in Lubbock. At approximately 19:00, the Neurologist from Covenant Hospital calls Captain Copeland inquiring about a traumatic injury to the right side of inmate Snell’s brain. The Neurologist stated that it seems inmate Snell was in a fight or something. Captain Copeland stated that inmate Snell was in a detox cell by himself. At approximately 21:00, Sergeant Perez informed Captain Copeland that after reviewing the camera in cell 188, that at approximately 14:40, inmate Snell had passed out and hit his head on the wall in the cell. Sergeant Perez stated that inmate Snell called on the emergency intercom and stated he needed medicine for a headache at approximately 15:14. On Sunday June 25, 2023, the neurologist at Covenant Hospital stated that he did not think inmate Snell was going to recover for his injury and stating that his brain was swelled for too long before the surgery. At approximately 14:30, Borden County Judge signed an order to release from custody for inmate Snell so his family could take over the direction on his care. On July 12, 2023, the Medical Examiner’s Office in Lubbock, Texas informed Garza County that Mr. Snell had passed away at 15:09 that day.”

The report alleges that Mr. Snell did not exhibit any medical problems, however, it provides no information regarding how often periodic checks were made while he was in the detox cell. 

The United States Constitution requires Texas jails to protect inmates. If jailers violate a person’s constitutional rights, and that person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to file a federal constitutional rights lawsuit. Our firm is litigating a number of cases across Texas.

The Randall County Sheriff’s Office, in Amarillo, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Clayton Shennum. Mr. Shennum was only 39 years old at the time of his 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 14, 2023 at approximately 4:50 AM Randall County Sheriff’s Office had an in custody death. Inmate Shennum, Clayton Lamar w/m XX/XX/1984 was found unresponsive in cell CA-112 shower with a mattress cover tied around his neck. The Officer working the housing area waited for back up and when it arrived inmate Shennum was removed from the shower and life saving measures were administered. Ambulance personal arrived and assisted in life saving measures and then ran an EKG strip that showed no activity in the heart. The time on the EKG strip showed 5:18 AM. The Texas Rangers were notified of the death in custody and Sgt. Scott Swick is the ranger in charge of the investigation. Justice of the Peace Tracy Byrd arrived and ordered autopsy.”

The report further notes that Mr. Shennum allegedly did not exhibit any mental health problems and did not make suicidal statements. 

The 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution requires jailers and/or medical personnel to provide reasonable medical and mental health care, and also to protect inmates from themselves and others. If jailers and/or medical personnel fail to do so, and a person dies as a result, then certain family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our Texas jail neglect law firm is handling a number of such cases across Texas.

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.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office, in Austin, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Sappi Franck. Mr. Franck was only 21 years old at the time of his 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 9/8/2023 at approximately 9pm officers found the decedent lethargic and verbally unresponsive. Officers immediately summoned medical staff and EMS subsequently transported the decedent to Dell Seton Medical Center where he was admitted into intensive care. The decedent died at Dell Seton Medical Center on 9/13/2023 at 7:36pm.”

The report alleges that Mr. Franck did not exhibit any medical problems but that he did appear intoxicated (alcohol or drugs).

The United States Constitution requires Texas jails to provide reasonable medical care and mental health care to detainees. If a detainee in a Texas jail dies as a result of a failure to provide medical care, then certain surviving family members may be able to bring a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our Texas constitutional rights law firm is litigating a number of such cases across Texas.

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, in Fort Worth, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Derreal Jackson. Mr. Jackson was only 31 years old at the time of his 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:

“Inmate Jackson was booked in on 08/01/2023 at approximately 0453 hours. Inmate Jackson was flagged at medical booking process. Inmate Jackson was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital for further evaluation at approximately 0726 hours reguarding evaluation for “Hypertention Urgency” per APRN Adeflolarin. Inmate Jackson was returned to general population with detox guidelines at approximately 1859 hours 08/01/2023. Inmate Jackson was in standard housing until 0510 when Detention Officer Etumnu conducted a face to face and discovered Jackson unresponsive.”

The report admits that Mr. Jackson exhibited medical problems, but it provides no information regarding how often, if at all, he was periodically observed after returning to general population.

The United States Constitution guarantees the right of pre-trial detainees to receive reasonable medical care. When jailers or medical personnel in a jail are deliberately indifferent to such needs and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members may be able to file a federal civil rights lawsuit. Our Texas jail neglect and abuse law firm is litigating a number of such cases across Texas.

Texas Surratt had been detained in Nueces County Jail in Corpus Christi, Texas, when he died on July 24, 2023. More of the detailed notes from the custodial death report (CDR) about the events surrounding Mr. Surratt’s death follow: While Mr. Surratt was being wheeled out of the cell, medical staff attempted to obtain a blood pressure reading but were unsuccessful.

Mr. Surratt’s pulse was very faint and at that time Registered Nurse (RN) Normajean Bullard, assisting Nurse Fernandez, directed officers to place Mr. Surratt on his back and onto the floor. Nurse Fernandez then began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The automated external defibrillator (AED) was retrieved, and pads were placed on Mr. Surratt’s chest, but did not call for “shock” to be used. Emergency medical services (EMS) were called, and extra medical staff arrived to assist. Mr. Surratt was reportedly making sounds and swatting away at nurses as they attempted to place an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth.

A Detainee at Nueces County Jail Commits Suicide

Eddie Garcia, age 29, was booked into Nueces County Jail in San Antonio, Texas, at 1:19 a.m. on June 10, 2021.  Tragically, he did not live another 66 hours because he was found with bed linen around his neck and apparently died of asphyxia by strangulation. The date and time of death of Eddie Garcia was June 12, 2021, at 7:16 p.m. The CDR indicates that he did not make suicidal statements during the intake process.

See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this continuing series.

Helping Texas jail detainees and their families with resources is one of the purposes of this website. There is no intention of suggesting that people or organizations have been involved in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor