Deaths in Custody
Died in jail or a lockup

Marvin Scott III

26 years old · died March 14, 2021 · Collin County Detention Facility, Collin County, Texas

Marvin Scott III, 26, was a man who, his family says, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had gone more than a year without an episode before his arrest in March 2021. His sister LaChay Batts described him as a gentle giant who would do anything for anybody. He was held at the Collin County jail in Texas, where detention officers restrained him to a bed, pepper-sprayed him and put a spit hood over his face, and he became unresponsive and died at a hospital. The Collin County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, and the family says he was likely in a mental health crisis and needed care. A grand jury declined to indict the jailers, and the family's attorney has sought further review and charges.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The Collin County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide from an acute stress response during restraint by jailers, while the family and their attorney say he was in a mental health crisis and that jailers restrained, pepper-sprayed and smothered him, and they seek criminal charges; an independent autopsy reportedly found restraint and asphyxiation the likely cause, and the family says he was not given needed mental health care.

Reported by: Collin County Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Collin County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Scott's family and their attorney (family or their lawyers); independent autopsy reported by NBC Dallas-Fort Worth (medical examiner or coroner).

News reports (26)

Read the Texas reportSee on the Texas mapSee on the national mapAll records

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