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Died in jail or a lockup

Robert Miller

38 years old · died August 1, 2019 · Tarrant County Jail, Tarrant County, Texas

Robert Miller, 38, died on August 1, 2019, while held at the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, Texas. His wife, Shanelle Jenkins, and his father, Willie Miller, have said he had tried to build a life with his wife and young son, and his father said he 'still hears his son's voice' and wants justice. A Fort Worth Star-Telegram investigation reports that jailers pepper-sprayed him at least three times during intake, that he told a nurse he could not breathe, and that less than an hour later he was unconscious in his cell; he died the next morning at a hospital. The medical examiner ruled the death natural from sickle cell crisis, and the county later reclassified the manner as undetermined, but his family and outside experts say he did not have sickle cell disease. His widow's wrongful death lawsuit against the Sheriff's Office was dismissed by a federal judge and is on appeal.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The Tarrant County medical examiner ruled a sickle cell crisis natural causes, but a Star-Telegram investigation found jailers pepper-sprayed him repeatedly and likely killed him, and his widow's lawsuit disputes the ruling; jail staff did not get him medical care after he told a nurse he couldn't breathe.

Reported by: Tarrant County Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Texas Rangers (outside investigators); his widow's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Fort Worth Star-Telegram (reporters).

Lawsuit: His widow sued in federal court, and a federal judge dismissed the wrongful death lawsuit, which she has appealed.

Sources (13)

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