Another ‘Mystery Death’ in a Texas Jail

There has been another “mystery death” for an inmate in a Texas jail. A man was found dead in his jail cell in Georgetown on Saturday afternoon. Texas Rangers are investigating the mysterious death to determine what happened to 54 year old Francisco Vasquez.

Vasquez’ death is at least the third in-custody death in Texas jails during the past month. Breitbart Texas previously reported on the suicides of Sandra Bland, who hanged herself in the Waller County Jail, and Hung Do, who hanged himself in the City of Houston jail.

Vasquez was arrested in Cedar Park on Saturday morning, found passed out in his car, and was booked in the county jail under misdemeanor DWI charges.

Cedar Park police said he was not in custody very long. Public Information officer for the Cedar Park Police Department, Tara Long, told Breitbart Texas that officers observed him at about 4 p.m. She said they observed Vasquez stopped alongside the road. Officers noticed symptoms of DUI. The was field tested and arrested at that time.

He was placed in a holding cell, alone, and his body was discovered around 5 p.m. (about one hour later) on Saturday afternoon. Lives saving measures, including CPR, were undertaken by jail staff.

EMS was called and they transported Vasquez a little more than five miles to Seton-Williamson Hospital. He was pronounced dead just after 6 by Justice of the Peace Bill Gravell, who ordered an autopsy.

Captain Fred Thomas of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office told the Austin American Statesman that Vasquez was not on suicide watch, and “there was nothing to indicate that he should have been,” Thomas said.

“I think everything was handled according to Texas jail standards,” Thomas said.

Earlier this year, the American-Statesman reported on the arrest of two correctional officers for falsifying duty logs involving checks on suicidal inmates. The two remain on leave, and a trial is pending.

Williamson County Sheriff James Wilson formerly served as Assistant Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Sheriff Wilson requested the Texas Rangers investigate. DPS officials confirmed to Breitbart Texas that Rangers from Company D are conducting the investigation. He is currently serving in his third term as sheriff.

Milford is a news contributor to Breitbart Texas. You can follow him on Facebook.