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Tarrant County leaders discuss jail death in closed session, remain silent on case

Robert Miller's wife, Shanelle Jenkins, holds a sign during a rally outside of a Tarrant County Court of Commissioners meeting. The sign, which is in Spanish, highlights that 39 people had died in the Tarrant County Jail from 2019 to May 10, 2022.
Shanelle Jenkins holds a sign during a rally outside the Tarrant County Court of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, to demand changes at Tarrant County’s jails after more than three dozen inmate deaths in recent years, complaints of policy violations and the alleged neglect Masten. Shanelle’s husband, Robert Geron Miller, died in the Tarrant County Jail in 2019 after being arrested on misdemeanor warrants. amccoy@star-telegram.com

Tarrant County discussed the case of a 2019 jail death in a closed session, but did not say anything publicly about a third-party review.

Robert G. Miller died in August 2019 after he was pepper sprayed three times at close range during his intake at the Tarrant County Jail. He was not given medical attention after her told a nurse he could not breathe.

A Tarrant County pathologist ruled Miller’s death “natural” from a sickle cell crisis. A Fort Worth Star-Telegram investigation that consulted experts and members of Miller’s family found that he never had the disease.

The investigation prompted county leaders to commission a third-party review. That contract ended Feb. 28, and officials have stayed silent on it.

County administrator G.K. Maenius has not responded to multiple emails with questions about the review. When approached about the questions Tuesday following the meeting, Maenius said he would have answers “soon” without elaborating.

This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Tarrant County leaders discuss jail death in closed session, remain silent on case."

Abby Church
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Abby Church covered Tarrant County government at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from 2021 to 2023.
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