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.
]]>TDCJ states the decision to reactivate the facility stems from a rise in the states’s prison population and the need for additional beds.
According to TDCJ the former State Jail was shuttered in 2017 due to a declining inmate population. The Unit was managed under contract by the former Correction Corporation of America (CCA), which is now Core Civics.
Prior to the State Jail’s closure the facility was a topic of controversy after allegations and a lawsuit was filed over the alleged sexual hazing of an inmate.
“This reopening is positive for both TDCJ and the city of Bartlett,” TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier said. “The Bartlett Unit will not only enhance public safety by providing secure housing for inmates but also contribute to the economic growth of the community.”
The Bartlett Unit will have a capacity of 1,049 inmates and is set to operate as what TDCJ describes as an “innovation unit” for the agency. TDCJ stated “it will offer a new approach to programs and services designed to support successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society upon release.”
“The Barlett Unit opening will bring a significant boost to our local economy by offering much-needed jobs, from corrections officers to support staff,” City of Bartlett Mayor Chad Mees said.
The Bartlett Unit is hosting a hiring event that will take place on the unit July 23, 2024, and July 24, 2024, at 1018 Arnold Dr., Bartlett, Texas. The unit’s projected opening date is early October 2024.
Although TDCJ would not respond to our press inquiry regarding if the facility would be managed by TDCJ or under private contract, we found several job postings by TDCJ. Those listing included state jobs for correctional officers and maintenance positions at the Bartlett Unit.
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Ramiro Gonzales will likely face execution by lethal injection at 6 PM today June 26, 2024. The convicted sexual predator was found guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 18-year-old female before fatally shooting her on January 15, 2001.
The convicted predator received two life sentences for another aggravated sexual assault with a deadly weapon from Bandera County. While serving time for the sexual assault, Gonzalez confessed to the kidnapping, murder and rape of Bridget Townsend in Medina County leading law enforcement to her remains.
Unless Texas Governor Abbott issues a stay for any reason, Gonzalez will likely face execution at the Huntsville Unit at 6 PM on Wednesday June 26th.
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The Texas Department of Criminal Justice along with Brazoria County law enforcement conducted a massive search for a TDCJ prison escapee. Kidanny Robles a 33 year old inmate, was discovered missing from the Clemens prison near Angleton during their midnight count on Sunday, June 23.
Robles is believed to have walked away from the trusty housing area outside of the main prison unit. Robles is serving a 20-year sentence for aggravated robbery, robbery and burglary of a habitation out of Bexar County as well as a subsequent 180-day sentence for possession of a controlled substance out of Nueces County from 2022. After being granted parole in 2021, he returned to TDCJ for violating his parole.
Robles will face felony escape charges. TDCJ thanked local Brazoria County law enforcement, state law enforcement and the Office of the Inspector General assisted in the search.
