Robert Robinson
Robert Earl Robinson, 54, died on July 19, 2018, while held at the Michael Unit, a Texas prison near Palestine. Security staff found him unresponsive and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A state in-custody death report listed environmental hyperthermia as the cause, and a medical examiner ruled that he died of environmental hyperthermia, or heat stroke. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice denied that the death was heat related, saying his cell was air-conditioned and he had other health complications. The prison system also said the earlier state report was preliminary.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The medical examiner ruled that he died of environmental hyperthermia, or heat stroke, while the prison system denied the death was heat related and said his cell was air-conditioned.
Reported by: medical examiner or coroner; Texas Department of Criminal Justice (the agency that held him).
Sources (4)
- Custodial death report 18-672-P
- A state report says a Texas inmate died from heat last year. Prison officials contest that finding.
- Inmates are dying in stifling Texas prisons, but the state seldom acknowledges heat as a cause of death
- Inmates are dying in stifling Texas prisons, but the state seldom acknowledges heat as a cause of death