Matthew Shelton
Matthew Shelton, 28, died of diabetic ketoacidosis on March 27, 2022, five days after he was taken into the Harris County Jail in Houston. His sister, Sarah Borchgrevink, described him as a gentle, kind man who managed his diabetes for years, and said he called her from jail worried he was not getting his insulin. Family members and an attorney say they have still not received medical, medication, or video records, and filed a federal lawsuit alleging he was denied insulin and regular glucose monitoring. A Texas state jail regulator found that insulin and blood pressure medication ordered by jail physicians were not provided after he was housed, and the Harris County Sheriff's Office and Harris Health System have declined to address the litigation in detail.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The autopsy and the jail's custodial death report list diabetic ketoacidosis; his family's federal lawsuit says jail staff denied him insulin and regular glucose monitoring, and a state notice found his insulin and blood pressure medication were not provided after he was housed.
Reported by: Harris County Jail custodial death report (the agency that held him); autopsy; family's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal civil lawsuit through attorney John Flood alleging he was denied insulin and regular glucose monitoring, and no settlement or award amount is reported.
News reports (7)
- Custodial death report 22-395-CJ
- 13 Investigates: Decade-high inmate deaths just one concern at Harris Co. jail
- 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
- 13 Investigates: Report shows dead inmate looked like he was 'laying on himself for hours'
- Harris County jail deaths: 13 Investigates dives into civil lawsuit detailing Matthew Shelton's last days behind bars