Arturo Chavez
Arturo Chavez was a 17-year-old who had come from Guatemala and worked as a busboy in Houston. He sent money home each week to his mother, father and sister, and his teacher remembered him as feisty and popular. He was found hanged in a solitary cell at the Galveston County Jail in August 2008. Officials ruled his death a suicide, but his parents' federal lawsuit says not enough was done to keep him from killing himself, and his attorney said he had been severely beaten during his arrest and that a head injury and solitary confinement could have brought on suicidal thoughts. An autopsy was pending when the reports were published.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Officials ruled his death a suicide, while his parents' federal lawsuit says the jail did not do enough to prevent it, and his attorney says a head injury and solitary confinement could have driven suicidal thoughts.
Reported by: Galveston County officials (the agency that held him); his parents' federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); his attorney.
Lawsuit: His parents filed a federal lawsuit contending that Galveston County did not do enough to prevent his suicide, and no settlement or award amount is reported.