An 53-year-old inmate reportedly died while in custody at Hopkins County jail Monday afternoon.
The inmate reportedly had an existing medical issue prior to his arrest May 19 and had been on medical watch, which requires jail staff to check on him in his cell every 20 minutes. Jail staff reported the inmate did not appear to be breathing when the jailer went to the inmate’s cell at 12:10 p.m. June 1, according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tanner Crump. The inmate was unresponsive, according to reports.
Natural causes related to his medical condition are believed to be the cause of death, according to Crump. However, an autopsy has been ordered by Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings and the Texas Ranger is investigating, as are standard procedures for the death of an inmate in the local jail, the chief deputy reported. Tapp Funeral Home staff conducted the transport to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, the Dallas County medical examiner’s office.
