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61-year-old inmate dies after medical emergency in Tarrant County Jail

A 61-year-old inmate at the Tarrant County Jail, Richard Gutkowski Jr., died after a medical emergency on Wednesday, Aug., 6, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
A 61-year-old inmate at the Tarrant County Jail, Richard Gutkowski Jr., died after a medical emergency on Wednesday, Aug., 6, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. amccoy@star-telegram.com

An inmate at the Tarrant County Jail died after a medical emergency on Wednesday, Aug. 6, officials with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The 61-year-old man was arrested by the White Settlement Police Department on a charge of criminal trespass. He arrived at the Tarrant County Jail on July 29, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The inmate was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where he died on Wednesday, according to the release.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man who died as Richard Gutkowski Jr. An autopsy will be performed to determine his cause of death.


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Gutkowski’s in-custody death will be investigated by numerous state and county agencies, including the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, according to the release.

This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 5:28 PM.

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Shambhavi Rimal
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.
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