Tarrant Co. hires Illinois forensic pathologist to review Robert Miller’s jail death
The Tarrant County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a contract to hire an independent forensic pathologist to review the autopsy of Robert Miller, who died in 2019 after being pepper-sprayed multiple times during intake at the county jail.
The commissioners voted unanimously, without discussion, to hire Dr. J. Scott Denton of Bloomington, Illinois, to provide “consulting services including review of select cases under the jurisdiction of the Tarrant County Medical Examiner.”
Miller’s 2019 autopsy, performed by a Tarrant County medical examiner, blamed Miller’s death on natural causes from a sickle cell crisis. But a Star-Telegram investigation published in October found evidence that Miller, 38, almost certainly didn’t have sickle cell disease. Medical records and other investigative documents obtained by the Star-Telegram and reviewed by outside experts suggest Miller’s death was more likely related to his treatment in jail.
Denton has previously been contracted by the FBI and other agencies to revisit cold cases and autopsies where questions were raised about the findings. He will be allowed to consult with outside professionals as part of his review of the Miller case.
The contract says Denton will be paid $5,000 for each case he reviews, up to $10,000. The contract will expire Feb. 28.
After the Star-Telegram published its investigation in October, county leaders initially said Tarrant County’s new chief medical examiner would revisit the case. They later decided to seek an outside pathologist to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
About two dozen clergy members have urged the county to seek a U.S. Department of Justice probe related to the case. Commissioner Roy Brooks has said the county would first pursue the independent review of the autopsy report, then decide “the next courses of action.”
Miller was homeless and suffered from mental illness. Fort Worth police officers arrested him on old misdemeanor warrants after someone had complained about his panhandling. Once at the jail, sheriff’s officers pepper-sprayed him at least three times at close range during booking. He complained to a nurse that he couldn’t breathe. Jailers found him unconscious and face-down in his cell 38 minutes later.
He died the next morning at JPS Hospital with inflamed lungs, a swollen neck and blood leaking from his ears and nose, according to records obtained by the Star-Telegram.
Dr. Richard Fries, a forensic pathologist, conducted Miller’s autopsy at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. His finding of death by natural causes from a medical condition prompted Texas Ranger Trace McDonald to close his investigation into Miller’s death.
Denton formerly was an assistant medical examiner in Cook County, home to Chicago, and served as interim chief there. He has served as a pathologist for the Southern Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force, which responds to calls in dozens of Illinois counties.
