HOUSTON, Texas – A Harris County Jail inmate has died after apparently hanging herself inside a general population cell.
Tracy Whited, 42, was arrested on a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge on Saturday, Jan. 12. An additional misdemeanor escape charge was filed against Whited later that day when she attempted to leave the jail booking facility.
While being processed into the jail, Whited underwent the standard health screening protocol, which included meeting with a nurse, during which she denied having thoughts of harming herself.
Whited was assigned to a general population cell, which holds about 48 inmates, at the 1200 Baker Street jail facility.
At 7:24 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 14, a fellow inmate alerted detention officers that Whited was unconscious and hanging from a bed sheet attached to her bunk.
Jail staff members immediately freed Whited from the sheet and performed CPR, managing to restore a pulse.
An ambulance then took Whited to Ben Taub Hospital, where she remained for two days until doctors declared her dead on Wednesday morning.
Whited’s death is being investigated by the Texas Rangers.
