William Joe Ocanas
William Joe Ocanas, 59, died on September 10, 2026, at Northwest Texas Hospital, where Randall County Jail staff had taken him that day. According to the Attorney General's custodial death report, he was taken to the hospital because of sores on his feet, chronic pain and low blood pressure. The report lists the manner of death as natural, with the medical cause pending autopsy and tied to a pre-existing condition. Potter County officials said he had been in a fight with another person on August 20 while in that jail's custody and was treated before being sent for evaluation, but the report does not connect that fight to his death. The Texas Rangers were notified and are investigating.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The Attorney General's custodial death report lists the manner as natural, pending autopsy, and attributes the death to a pre-existing condition; the Randall County Sheriff's Office said he was treated by medical staff after an earlier fight and taken to hospital for evaluation.
Reported by: Office of the Attorney General custodial death report (outside investigators); Randall County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him).
News reports (6)
- Second Randall County Jail inmate dies within the last month
- Texas Rangers investigating after Randall County inmate dies in custody
- Custodial death reports published for two recent Randall County Jail inmate deaths
- Second Randall County inmate to die within five weeks had multiple medical conditions
- Custodial death report does not link earlier jail fight to inmate’s death