07-22-2024
Huntsville, Texas – An updated custodial death report filed by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Inspector General to the Texas Attorney General has ruled the death of an inmate at the Micheal Unit on November 20, 2023 at 1:04 PM as an accidental overdose.
The inmate identified as John Anthony Vela, age 46, was reported to have died from “Synthetic cannabinoid toxicity (5F-ADB metabolite identified)”.
Synthetic marijuana (also known as K2, Spice, and Fake Bake) has been an issue for TDCJ over the last several years. The agency established a Digital Mail Scanning System to prevent the drug from being smuggled in through correspondence dipped in the liquid form of the drug to inmates.
TBCJ OIG summary report to the Texas Attorney General was very vague, stating “Inmate John Vela was pronounced dead at the Michael Unit.”
Vela had been incarcerated at the Micheal Unit since May 9, 2017 and had been serving a sentence in TDCJ for Capital Murder since May 9, 2017 according to OIG’s report submitted on July 17, 2024.
TDCJ’s taxpayer funded Director of Communications Amanda Hernandez refuses to comment to our publication.
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Huntsville, Texas – An updated custodial death report filed by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Inspector General to the Texas Attorney General has ruled the death of an inmate at the Robertson Unit on October 10, 2023 at 9:13 PM as an accidental overdose.
The inmate identified as Derrick McKelphin, age 48, was reported to have died from “aspiration of gastric contents” caused from synthetic cannabinoid which was detected in postmortem blood samples.
Synthetic marijuana (also known as K2, Spice, and Fake Bake) has been an issue for TDCJ over the last several years. The agency established a Digital Mail Scanning System to prevent the drug from being smuggled in through correspondence dipped in the liquid form of the drug to inmates.
TBCJ OIG summary report to the Texas Attorney General was very vague, stating “On October 10, 2023, the inmate was pronounced deceased by medical staff.”
McKelphin had been incarcerated at the Robertson Unit since August 23, 2023 and had been serving a sentence in TDCJ for aggravated robbery since July 6, 1995 according to OIG’s report submitted on July 17, 2024.
TDCJ’s taxpayer funded Director of Communications Amanda Hernandez refuses to comment to our publication.
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Huntsville, Texas – A custodial death report filed by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Inspector General to the Texas Attorney General has ruled the death of an inmate at the Holliday Unit on May 1, 2024 at 6:56 AM as a suicide.
The 45 year old inmate was identified as Randy Eleuterio Castillo. The report stated the “decedent was found unresponsive and life saving measures were conducted. EMS arrived on scene and continued Life saving measures until 0656 Hours.”
The report states the death was caused from hanging / strangulation. Castillo was incarcerated in TDCJ since April 23, 2023 and arrived at the Holliday Unit on April 3, 2024.
Castillo was serving a sentence in TDCJ for Sexual Assault of a Child according OIG’s updated report submitted on July 17, 2024.
TDCJ’s Director of Communications Amanda Hernandez refuses to comment to our publication.
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