Ricardo Mahamuth Died At TDCJ Estelle Unit

Inmate Ricardo Mahamuth Died While Staying At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Estelle Unit In Huntsville

WALKER COUNTY, TEXAS (December 26, 2023) – An inmate identified as Ricardo Mahamuth has tragically died while staying at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Estelle Unit in Huntsville.

TDCJ Estelle Unit officials are saying that the incident began on November 26. Correctional officers noticed that Ricardo Mahamuth was in need of medical aid.

Very few details have been released thus far. Despite life-saving measures, Ricardo Mahamuth was later pronounced dead.

A full investigation into the in-custody death remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For TDCJ Estelle Unit Inmate Deaths

Thousands of inmates die in-custody every year. According to Health Affairs, “On average, about 1.40 deaths occurred annually per 1,000 incarcerated people. About 0.62 deaths per 1,000 incarcerated people were illness-related deaths, 0.53 were suicides, and 0.15 were acute drug- or alcohol-related deaths. Accidents or homicides were less common (0.03 deaths each).” There are many steps that jails should take in order to prevent inmate deaths.

• Jail staff should be well-trained to understand when an inmate is going through a medical emergency.
• Jail staff should have plenty of access to Narcan, which can be used to reverse the effects of an overdose.
• Inmate should be given a medical screening when they are first admitted.

Every jail in Texas has a legal obligation to provide inmates with access to adequate healthcare. This includes mental healthcare. Jails can be extremely difficult places to live even in the best of circumstances. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could easily lead to a death. There are many common causes of inmate deaths.

• Suicide
• Homicide
• Heart attacks
• Cancer
• Septic shock

Texas has one of the highest rates of in-custody death in the United States. Many of these deaths are totally preventable. In many situations, inmates die because they are not given access to quick medical care. Drug overdoses, in particular, are responsible for many deaths. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any in-custody death. The family of any inmate that dies in-custody may have legal recourse through a civil claim.

Investigating TDCJ Estelle Unit Inmate Deaths

We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ricardo Mahamuth. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar tragedies.

Do you need more information about a TDCJ Estelle Unit inmate death? Our team of civil rights advocates are here to assist you in any way that we can. We care deeply that jails are held accountable for their medical neglect and that the constitutional rights of inmates are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 469-966-7614.