Jon Southards
Jon Anthony Southards died on June 28, 2023, while held at the W.J. Estelle Unit, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison near Huntsville. The Texas Office of the Attorney General's custodial death report lists his death at that facility. His family's federal lawsuit says he had disabilities and took medications that made him vulnerable to heat, and that he was denied air-conditioned housing despite repeated requests during a June 2023 heat wave. The lawsuit attributes his death to heat-related illness. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. Staff denied Jon air-conditioned housing despite repeated requests during a heat wave, and his family's federal lawsuit says the heat, which his disabilities and medications made more dangerous, caused his death.
Reported by: family members in federal lawsuit.
Lawsuit: His family sued in federal court over his death at the Estelle Unit, alleging he was denied air-conditioned housing despite repeated requests during a June 2023 heat wave; no settlement or award amount is reported.