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Category: Tom Green County Sheriff's Office

Tom Green County Jail Inmate Lester Lewis Travioli Dies

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Lester Lewis Travioli went through intake at Tom Green County Jail on May 1, 2024. Mr. Travioli was sweeping the floor in the multiple occupancy cell where he was housed when, at 11:54 PM on December 24, 2024, he suddenly fell on his back and lost consciousness. Two corrections officers were in the immediate area preparing to conduct a head count. They promptly assisted Mr. Travioli in sitting up but realized he wasn’t breathing. Lifesaving measures were quickly initiated; but at 12:39 AM on December 25, 2024, 61-year-old Lester Travioli was pronounced deceased.

The Tom Green County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Travioli on January 7, 2025. The CDR indicates that Mr. Travioli was on several prescription medications. He also had an extensive medical history, including seizures and other diseases. At the time of booking, he was observed to exhibit mental and medical problems.

Tom Green County Jail is at 122 W Harris Ave in San Angelo, Texas 76903. The inmate capacity is 1,001.

Which Inmate at Tom Green County Jail Died Following Failures in Supervision?

In November 2024, Tom Green County Jail was cited for failing to supervise an inmate in the time preceding that person’s death. Specifically, two supervision rounds were not conducted with the required face-to-face observations. It is difficult to know via public records which of two detainees who died in the custody of Tom Green County Jail in October 2024 was associated with the TCJS inspectors’ findings. Details about both custodial deaths follow.

A Suicide in Tom Green County Jail

A 59-year-old woman died on October 20, 2024. She had entered the jail eight days earlier. The CDR’s summary of how her death occurred reveals that at 7:28 PM that day, the woman was discovered hanging from the shower nozzle in the single occupancy cell where she was housed. She had used torn bedding or clothing to fashion a ligature, which was wrapped around her neck and attached to the shower nozzle. She was pronounced deceased at 10:06 PM, though lifesaving measures continued during that entire period.

Suicide is the leading cause of deaths in local jails like the one in San Angelo. All members of any Texas jail staff are required to receive training in suicide prevention. The first month of incarceration is the time when a significant number of suicides occur, and vigilance over new inmates is imperative. Because supervision is the chief deterrent of suicide, the fact that this detainee was alone in a cell should have increased the sense of urgency in keeping watch over her, at least according to minimum jail standards.

A Medical Emergency is Followed by Death in Tom Green County Jail

October 15, 2024, was the second day a 65-year-old man was an inmate in Tom Green County Jail. He was found unresponsive that day and died the next. The circumstances of his arrest involved his having sought further medical assistance for chest pains at Shannon Medical Center and then failing to leave the hospital premises. He was returned to that same medical center before being declared deceased on October 16.

Because the inmate’s arrest involved his alarm over chest pains, a sensitivity to his health was called for. In cases like this, a lack in supervision could potentially make the difference between life and death.

Seeking Justice for a Death Caused by Jail Negligence?

Being incarcerated does not strip a person of their fundamental civil rights. If you believe that medical neglect in a Texas city or county jail led to your loved one’s death, it is vital to take swift action. Contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone today. Our knowledgeable team routinely handles custodial death cases, including jail suicides, working to hold jails accountable and seeking justice for inmates and their families.

We also advocate for former inmates who have suffered serious injuries due to abuse or neglect while in custody. Our team is available 24/7 to provide assistance. Reach out to us by phone, text, or through our online form. We are deeply committed to asserting the rights of inmates and their families.

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smchugh

Terri Sandefur is the 2nd to Die in Tom Green County Jail Within a Week

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Inside The Old Idaho State Penitentiary

On October 12, 2024, at age 59, Terri Yvette Sandefur went through intake at Tom Green County Jail. Tragically, Ms. Sandefur died a week later.
The custodial death report (CDR) filed on November 13, 2024, by the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Department reveals that Ms. Sandefur died by suicide on October 20, 2024. Another inmate of Tom Green County Jail died of a medical condition five days earlier.

Year after year, suicide is the leading cause of inmate deaths in county and municipal jails. Mandatory special training for all jail staff is aimed at suicide prevention. Intake personnel are required to receive extra training in order to assess whether detainees show signs of being at risk for suicide. During Ms. Sandefur’s booking process, the intake officer noticed that she exhibited mental health problems, which is one of the indicators of potential suicide. Ms. Sandefur allegedly did not make suicidal statements, however.

Tom Green County Jail is at 4382 N US Hwy 277, San Angelo, TX 76905, and the inmate capacity is 1,001.

Statistics Reveal Trends of Inmate Suicides in Local Jails

A report on suicides in local jails as well as state and federal correctional facilities was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2021. The results raise concerns and should put all jails and prisons on high alert. Suicides have recently increased substantially in jails. Sadly, the figures mirror a nationwide trend, with suicide rates since 2019 increasing by more than 30% in 25 states. Suicide is now a leading cause of death in the U.S., in addition to continuing to be the leading cause of death in local jails.

The following are among the findings about suicides in local U.S. jails:

  • From 2001 to 2019, suicides accounted for 24% to 35% of deaths among local jail detainees (compared to 5% to 8% of all deaths in state and federal prison).
  • A total of 355 local jail inmates died by suicide in 2019, which made up 50% of the total number of suicides in correctional facilities.
  • Males accounted for 90% of the jail suicides from 2000 to 2019. During this period, female inmate suicides rose by almost 65%
  • Inmates with no convictions made up almost 77% of those who died by suicide in county and municipal U.S. jails from 2000 to 2019.

Pursuing Justice for a Death Caused by Jail Neglect

Being incarcerated does not mean losing fundamental civil rights. If you suspect your loved one died in a U.S. jail due to medical neglect, it’s vital to take immediate action. Reach out to the Law Offices of Dean Malone today. Our experienced team works exclusively on cases involving custodial deaths in the interest of jail accountability and justice for affected families.

We also advocate for former inmates who have endured life-altering injuries as a result of neglect or abuse while incarcerated. Contact us 24/7 via phone, text, or our online form. We are here to provide support and remain dedicated to asserting inmates’ rights.

 

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smchugh

Tom Green County Jail Inmate Manuel Garza Jr. Dies

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Sixty-five-year-old Manuel Morin Garza, Jr. was booked into Tom Green County Jail on October 14, 2024. A custodial death report (CDR) filed by the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Department on November 13, 2024, shows that Mr. Garza only lived two more days after his arrival. The CDR indicates that Mr. Garza died as a result of cardiac arrest after being transported to Shannon Medical Center. It also shows that the intake officer indicated that Mr. Garza exhibited mental health problems and medical problems. His cause of death is pending toxicology results.

The summary of how Mr. Garza’s death occurred reveals a unique situation. Officers with the San Angelo Police Department arrested him for criminal trespass after he refused to leave Shannon Medical Center, where he had been seeking medical attention. Later, he was sent back by the jail to his place of arrest and died there on October 16, 2024.

Tom Green County Jail is at 4382 N US Hwy 277, San Angelo, TX 76905, and the inmate capacity is 1,001.

Detainees in Local Jails Die Due to Medical Neglect

A withdrawal death allegedly occurred in a Minnesota county jail in 2022, and facts came forward earlier this year. The 41-year-old man told police that he had swallowed a bag of drugs. Although they initially took him to the emergency department of a hospital, he was released. Back at the jail, the man complained of new and worsening symptoms for three days.

He became very ill and began vomiting. He barely ate and was declining meals. A nurse checked on him, and he crawled to her because he said his stomach hurt too much to stand. He later collapsed, falling face-first to the floor. He begged to be taken to a hospital, but the nurse refused to send him.

He died on his third day in the jail, and an autopsy revealed that the inmate died from infection, peritonitis, because his small intestine had a small hole—a duodenal perforation.

A 22-year-old detainee died in a Colorado county jail after he was repeatedly denied medical care over the course of a month. The conditions he died from were all easily treatable conditions, including sepsis and endocarditis. This tragic custodial death also occurred in 2022.

In August 2022, a man died after four days in a Virginia county jail because he was denied the lifesaving medication he required due to a lifelong condition. The man’s family begged the jail to provide him with the medicine without delay. Two days of denial of the medication was the ultimate cause of his death.

Could You Be a Victim of Jail Neglect?

Jails are responsible for ensuring the well-being of every person in their custody. If you were incarcerated in a Texas jail and sustained life-changing injuries due to neglect, such as inadequate medical care, reach out to the Law Offices of Dean Malone. With extensive experience asserting inmates’ rights, we are here to help.

If you have lost a loved one in a Texas jail and believe their death resulted from neglect, including medical neglect, we encourage you to contact us. Our dedicated team concentrates on jail death cases and is committed to seeking justice for those affected.

Don’t wait to take action. We are available around the clock via phone, text, and our online form. Contact us today for support.

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smchugh

Tom Green County Jail is Cited for a Rule Violation

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The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has cited Tom Green County Jail in San Angelo, Texas, for a jail standards violation. TCJS issued a notice of non-compliance to Tom Green County Jail after an inspection that took place on March 5-6, 2024. The jail inspection report shows that Tom Green County Jail violated Rule §279.1-Sanitation Plan in the chapter on sanitation, though it identifies the rule incorrectly as one under the chapter on life safety rules.

Tom Green County Jail’s address is 122 W Harris Ave., San Angelo, Texas 76903. The San Angelo jail has a 1,001-bed capacity.

Excessive Amounts of Nuisance Contraband Found in Tom Green County Jail

TCJS inspectors added a lengthy comment detailing conditions that Tom Green County Jail needs to correct. Scenes noted during the walk-through of the male inmate area were described in detail. The following are examples of inspectors’ observations during the March inspection:

  • In and around inmate bunks, excessive amounts of nuisance contraband were found.
  • Extra blankets and torn mattress covers obstructed the officers’ view of numerous bunks.
  • In multiple areas, clothing lines were constructed using shredded jail property.
  • The locking devices on multiple doors had contraband stuffed into them, allowing doors to be propped open.
  • The officers’ view was obstructed by used pizza boxes throughout the inmate housing areas.

Can Excessive Contraband Endanger Inmates?

Many types of contraband turn up in U.S. jails, the most dangerous of which are weapons and illicit drugs. The conditions described at Tom Green County Jail can endanger detainees because obstructions can prevent jailers from making appropriate face-to-face observations. Because suicide is the number one cause of inmate death in local jails, supervision is one of the most important protections for detainees. In recent months in Texas county jails, inmates have died from suicide at times when jailers were unable to conduct face-to-face checks because their view was obstructed.

There are numerous threats related to contraband, including fentanyl. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid approved by the FDA for pain relief. At a time when illicit fentanyl has increased the number of deaths in jails, it can be frightening to learn that drones are now often used to deliver illegal contraband to detainees.

The National Institute of Justice recently published a lengthy report on the growing threat of drone deliveries in jails and prisons. When there is evidence of excessive contraband in a facility, it is only natural to recognize that the situation, in several ways, can potentially endanger the lives of detainees.

Help With Jail Negligence Resulting in Death or Serious Injury

Do you need help with a case of possible jail neglect or medical neglect? Our office is dedicated to helping ex-inmates and their families when death or serious injury has occurred due to jail neglect. Experienced help is what you need, to avoid potential missteps within the legal system.

We care about these concerns and invite you to contact us. You can reach us 24/7 via phone call, text, or our online form.

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smchugh
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