Woman inmate dies at Harris County Jail, investigation underway
HOUSTON - An investigation is now underway after a female inmate died at the Harris County Jail on Monday.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office identified the woman as 50-year-old Dominga Barrera Trevino, who had been at the jail awaiting trial since June 29.
The sheriff’s office says detention officers were notified Monday that she was suffering a medical emergency inside the jail’s medical ward, and Harris Health medical staff responded to attempt life-saving efforts. She was pronounced dead at the clinic at 10:32 p.m.
The sheriff’s office says she didn't have any obvious physical injuries. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will conduct an autopsy to determine her cause of death.
"The death is being investigated by the Houston Police Department in accordance with state law that requires all jail deaths to be investigated by an outside law enforcement agency," the sheriff’s office wrote in a news release. "The Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Division is also investigating to determine whether all applicable policies and procedures were followed, which is standard following the death of a person in jail."
Officials say her death was also reported to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.