Matthew Shelton
Matthew Shelton, 28, a man with Type 1 diabetes, was held at the Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas, after arriving on March 22, 2022. His sister, Sarah Borchgrevink, and mother, Marianna, described him as a beloved brother and son who wanted to start over, and his mother said the family sent money so he could buy socks and ChapStick. He died on March 27, 2022, and the autopsy attributed his death to diabetic ketoacidosis. His family's federal lawsuit says he was denied insulin and regular glucose monitoring, and a Texas Commission on Jail Standards finding said insulin and blood pressure medication ordered by jail physicians were not provided after he was housed. The Harris County Sheriff's Office referred questions to Harris Health System, which took over jail health care in March 2022, and Harris Health and the county declined to comment on the litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The autopsy attributed the death to diabetic ketoacidosis, but his family says it was preventable because he was not given his insulin, and his family's federal lawsuit alleges he was denied insulin and glucose monitoring; state regulators found insulin and blood pressure medication were not provided after he was housed.
Reported by: Harris County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); autopsy; family and their attorney John Flood (family or their lawyers); Texas Commission on Jail Standards (outside investigators); Texas Office of the Attorney General custodial death report (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: His family sued in federal court over the death, alleging he was denied insulin and regular glucose monitoring, and the county and Harris Health System declined to comment on the litigation; no settlement or award amount has been reported.
Sources (12)
- Custodial death report 22-395-CJ
- Why Are In-Custody Deaths Surging at Houston’s Harris County Jail?
- 13 Investigates: Decade-high inmate deaths just one concern at Harris Co. jail
- Jail Is a Death Sentence for a Growing Number of Americans (Published 2022)
- State calls out Harris County Jail after 28-year-old diabetic inmate dies
- Harris County Jail population, deaths swell in 2022
- Harris County Jail making changes after state report finds inmate died from lack of medication
- Harris County Jail Crisis in Houston, Texas Kills Dozens
- Harris County Jail deaths: Houston detention center's health agency vows better inmate care after record deaths behind bars
- 13 Investigates: Report shows dead inmate looked like he was 'laying on himself for hours'
- Civil rights activists hold news conference after 2 Harris County Jail inmates died last week
- Harris County jail deaths: 13 Investigates dives into civil lawsuit detailing Matthew Shelton's last days behind bars