Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office cleared of wrongdoing in inmate’s death
An outside investigation cleared the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office of wrongdoing in the February death of an inmate.
Kimberly Phillips, 56, died on Feb. 18, 2025, of malnutrition and dehydration while in sheriff’s custody at John Peter Smith Hospital after refusing meals over the course of multiple days.
On Feb. 19, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office asked the Denton County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an independent investigation into Phillips’ death. According to documents obtained by the Star-Telegram, Denton County sheriff’s investigators spent months reviewing police records, jail records, hospital records and surveillance video before determining the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office had no fault.
The timeline of Kimberly Phillips’ death
Grand Prairie police arrested Phillips on Jan. 24 on two outstanding warrants related to an assault in North Richland Hills. Phillips was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on Jan. 25.
Phillips refused dinner and breakfast while in Grand Prairie police custody. During her intake at the Tarrant County Jail, she told personnel she had allergies to penicillin and eggs and was vegan. According to intake documents reviewed during the investigation, jail personnel said Phillips was cooperative and did not appear to have any medical issues.
During a mental health evaluation at the jail, Phillips reportedly answered “no” to all questions. However, it was subsequently discovered that Phillips had previously been diagnosed with psychosis, paranoia and major depressive disorder at John Peter Smith Hospital, according to Denton County sheriff’s records. Phillips told Tarrant County Jail personnel she was not taking medication.
From the investigation report, it appears Phillips took meals during her first few days in Tarrant County Jail, though she did complain about not being provided a vegan option.
Phillips was housed in a cell by herself and was given an electronic tablet for communication and entertainment. Using the jail’s inmate communication system, she reportedly told “outside third parties” that she planned to fast while in custody, according to the records.
Jail records show Phillips began skipping meals on Feb. 8, and she had last been observed eating on Jan. 27. Jail personnel recorded that on Feb. 11 Phillips did not engage with them, but she did not appear to be in distress.
On Feb. 14, Phillips was scheduled to be moved from a single cell into the jail’s general population, but a jail social worker advised against that, saying Phillips was too fragile. Between Feb. 8 and Feb. 14, Phillips reportedly skipped at least 13 of the 20 meals offered to her.
Phillips was moved to the jail infirmary on Feb. 14. At approx. 7 a.m. the following day, she was transported by Medstar to the hospital.
The report said Phillips twice refused treatment while in the ER on the morning of Feb. 15. She was moved to ICU later that day.
Just before 3 a.m. on Feb. 18, Phillips was barely responsive when medical personnel entered her room. She was moved to another ICU room just before 9 a.m. At 3:47 p.m. she was given CPR, and that continued for half an hour before Phillips was pronounced dead.
According to Tarrant County Medical Examiners records, the cause of death was complications resulting from dehydration and malnutrition. The manner of death is listed as “undetermined.”
Hospital records used in the investigation showed Phillips was being treated for acute renal failure and hypernatremia, a condition that occurs as a result of dehydration. The hospital gave the cause of death as septic shock, with a secondary cause being cardiac arrest.
No evidence Phillips was intentionally harmed
Denton County sheriff’s investigators found no evidence that Tarrant County officers used force on Phillips, and it was noted that she was never combative while in custody. The investigators determined Phillips had no injuries that would point to foul play, nor did they find any evidence of neglect while she was in the Tarrant County Jail.
The end of the investigative report states Denton County officers “found no evidence to support any criminal acts of any person or persons that contributed to the hospitalization or the death of Kimberly Phillips.”
Texas law says inmates must be “provided with food prepared and served in a palatable and sanitary manner according to good dietary practices and of sufficient quality to maintain good health.”
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards dictates that jails must accommodate inmates with physician-prescribed dietary needs, but Phillips did not appear to be under a doctor’s orders to eat vegan.
The Denton County investigators’ report said Phillips was offered medical care before being transported to John Peter Smith Hospital, but she refused health monitoring, and she refused to take an IV for hydration. The investigators found that Tarrant County Jail personnel acted in accordance with jail policies after determining Phillips was in medical distress.
A Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson did not immediately respond when asked to provide specifics on the jail’s policy regarding inmates who refuse meals.