HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — For the sixth time this year, a Harris County inmate has died while in custody, with the sheriff’s office attributing the death to a medical emergency.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported on Wednesday that 41-year-old Hugo Mota, who had been incarcerated since March 10, passed away at St. Joseph Hospital on Monday afternoon. According to the sheriff’s office, Mota experienced a medical emergency in his cellblock, prompting medical personnel to move him to the clinic while performing life-saving measures. Despite these efforts, Mota was pronounced dead at the hospital.
In line with state law, Houston police, an external agency, are investigating the death. The HCSO’s Internal Affairs Division will review whether jail staff adhered to policies and procedures, while the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Mota had been booked earlier this year on a charge of continuous violence against the family.
The number of in-custody deaths has sparked significant discussion about conditions at the Harris County Jail. Despite the sheriff’s office’s claims of insufficient staffing, the county allocated $122 million in June for jail improvements, though staffing issues were not addressed in the funding approval.
After recording 27 inmate deaths in 2022 and 19 in 2023, the Harris County Jail has seen six deaths through August 12 of this year.
The most recent death prior to Mota’s was Dianna Williams, a 63-year-old inmate who had been in custody for 76 days on three charges. She died on July 17 after suffering a medical emergency. Williams’ death was the first since April 17, when 65-year-old Joseph Trahan died from an undisclosed medical condition. Trahan had been held for 16 days on a parole revocation charge.
Harold Shell, 71, died on April 9 after complaining of abdominal pain. Shell, who had been incarcerated for 83 days on a drug possession charge, was reported to have a terminal illness. Jalen Anderson, 29, died on April 3 while his custody was outsourced to a Louisiana jail, after complaining of dizziness and vomiting.
Adam Simmons, the first inmate death of 2024, suffered a medical emergency at the Joint Processing Center. Deputies noted that Simmons, 32, had no visible physical injuries.
