Deaths in Custody
Died in jail or a lockup

Fred Harris

19 years old · died October 31, 2021 · Harris County Detention Center, Harris County, Texas

Fred Joseph Harris was 19 and had special needs. He graduated from Stafford High School, and his mother, Dallas Garcia, described him as a sweet boy who loved to dance and was known as "Fearless Fred." According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, another man held in the same holding cell at the Baker Street jail in Houston attacked him late on Friday, October 29, 2021, and he died at Ben Taub Hospital on October 31, 2021. The medical examiner attributed his death to blunt force trauma to the head and neck. His family's federal lawsuit alleges that understaffing led staff to place him in a cell with a much larger man without adequate oversight, and that the jail failed to protect him despite his mother's request that he not be housed in general population; the county agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle the suit.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office and police say another detainee in the holding cell attacked and killed him, while his family's federal lawsuit says understaffing led staff to house him with a much larger man without adequate oversight, and his mother had asked staff not to place him in general population.

Reported by: Harris County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); the medical examiner; Texas Rangers (outside investigators); his mother and grandmother through their attorney, in their federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); court records; Michael Ownby, in a guilty plea (court); news reports.

Lawsuit: His mother sued Harris County and its sheriff's office in federal court, and the county agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle the lawsuit.

News reports (16)

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Questions, a correction, or a death I’ve missed? Email me at orion.j.taylor@gmail.com.