Marco Antonio Muñoz
Marco Antonio Muñoz, a 39-year-old Honduran man, was a father whose wife and 3-year-old son were with him when they crossed into the United States in May 2018; he was later separated from his family after being apprehended by Border Patrol. He was held at the Starr County Jail in Texas, where he was found unresponsive in his cell the morning of May 13, 2018. The sheriff's office and Customs and Border Protection describe his death as a suicide by self-strangulation and say he was checked every 30 minutes and watched by a camera, while his widow's federal lawsuit blames the family separation and the jail's failure to monitor him. Texas Rangers are investigating, and CBP says it has begun an internal review.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office and CBP say he died by self-strangulation despite 30-minute checks, while his widow's federal lawsuit blames the family separation and the jail's failure to monitor him.
Reported by: Starr County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); U.S. Customs and Border Protection (the agency that held him); Texas Office of the Attorney General (outside investigators); Texas Rangers (outside investigators); widow, in federal lawsuit against the U.S. government and Starr County (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His widow filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government and Starr County over his death at the Starr County jail, and no amount is reported.
News reports (5)
- Custodial death report 18-449-CJ
- Immigrant dies by suicide in Texas jail after being apprehended at border, U.S. authorities say
- Honduran immigrant arrested, separated from family died of 'suicide in custody': Officials - ABC News
- Honduran migrant dies in Texas jail - Los Angeles Times
- U.S. sued over Honduran man's suicide after he was separated from his family