Rhonda Newsome
Rhonda Newsome, 50, died on June 15, 2018, while held at the Anderson County Jail in Anderson County, Texas, where she was waiting for trial. Reporting from Corrections1 said Texas Rangers were investigating and that the autopsy and coroner's report were pending at the time. A later coroner's report cited multiple health issues, including hypertension and Addison's disease, as the cause of death. Her family has filed a $10-million wrongful-death lawsuit, which says that blood test results from Palestine Regional Medical Center showed she was in imminent danger and that she died nearly seven hours after jail medical staff were alerted. The Texas Rangers reportedly found no criminal wrongdoing but found evidence of neglect and have reopened their investigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The coroner attributed her death to hypertension and Addison's disease, but her family's wrongful-death lawsuit says jail staff neglected her, and the Texas Rangers found clear evidence of neglect and reopened their investigation after alerts about blood test results went nearly seven hours without a response.
Reported by: coroner's report (medical examiner or coroner); Texas Rangers (outside investigators); family's wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family filed a $10-million wrongful-death lawsuit over her death at the Anderson County Jail, and no settlement or award has been reported.