Arcade Joseph Comeaux
Arcade Joseph Comeaux, 56, died on November 13, 2013 while held at the Clements Unit, a Texas state prison, according to a custodial death report. His family, through their attorney Benjamin Haile, says he complained of trouble breathing and told staff he was dying, but was left in his cell until he had a severe asthma attack. The family's federal wrongful death lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and its staff says he then had a heart attack while prison medical staff were performing an electrocardiogram. The lawsuit is pending in federal court.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The family, through their attorney Benjamin Haile, says staff left Comeaux in his cell after he complained of breathing trouble and said he was dying, until a severe asthma attack led to a heart attack during an electrocardiogram, in a federal wrongful death lawsuit against TDCJ.
Reported by: Texas Department of Criminal Justice (the agency that held him); family, through attorney Benjamin Haile (family or their lawyers); federal court records in wrongful death lawsuit.
Lawsuit: His family sued TDCJ and staff in federal court over his death, and the lawsuit was still pending in the reporting.