The FBI has opened an investigation into allegations of federal rights violations following the deaths of two inmates in Texas.
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Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez had reached out to the FBI to investigate the deaths of Jaquaree Simmons who died in February 2021 and Jacoby Pillow who died in January 2023, while they were in the custody of the Harris County Jail. "It's appalling that you would have 32 detainees in the Harris County Jail in a 14-month period," Crump said during the press conference. "I mean, nobody would really believe it unless you have these bodies that showed you it was really happening.", 21 inmates died in custody in 2021, and according to attorneys, last year, at least 28 inmates lost their lives in Harris County Jail.
"Being a former employee in Harris County working for pretrial , I've literally witnessed correctional staff mistreat detainees because they were in need of insulin for diabetes or other medical issues, and I've literally witnessed them being the reason for altercations taking place between them and detainees, and it's not fair, and it's not right," Ariana Pillow said between tears.
Simmons, 23, was arrested and put in jail on Feb. 10, 2021, and died of blunt-force head trauma seven days later on Feb. 17, 2021,The sheriff's office completed 73 interviews, but none of the 1,490 cameras inside the jail captured video evidence of the confrontation leading to Simmons' death,Court documents showed the Morales caused Simmons' death by dropping him on his head, kneeing him in the head, striking his head against the door and striking his head against the wall.
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