2016-09-26

Marlene Gonzales

What was the manner of death? (select only one)

Accidental injury to self

What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death?

Offense 1: Probation Violation Child Abuse

Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters)

On Thursday, November 3, 2016, I was on-duty in the SCU. LT Bohannon told me he had been contacted by
the PCSO. There was a prisoner named Marlene Gonzales HF 5/10/1985 who had been transported to NWTH from their jail. Ms. Gonzales was not expected to survive and was probably brain dead. Lt. Bohannon told me I would be assigned this case should she pass away. I was told Ms. Gonzales had been arrested in Lubbock and then transferred to the PCSO Detention Center. She had served her time on a DWI charge and was awaiting extradition to Las Cruces NM on a Probation Violation warrant. She fell ill in her cell. She had been in a single cell pod called “MiniMax.” PCSO reported she had been drinking a lot of water and trying to make herself vomit before she fell ill. She was found in her cell having "seizure-like" behavior. Medical staff was summoned to the pod and Gonzales was moved to Medical. An ambulance was called to the jail and Gonzales was taken to NWTH. PCSO had assigned case # 16-16004.

On Friday, November 4, 2016 at about 1600 hours, Lt. Bohannon told me inmate Gonzales was on life
support which would be terminated. This was now an In-custody death investigation. I responded to NWTH # C425. I arrived at 1625 hours and found RN Paula Saunders attending Marlene Gonzales with SSN 451-73-4563 in room C425. The room was guarded by PCSO Hunter #1680. I was told the life support had not been discontinued; the hospital had received instructions from PCSO to wait until SCU arrived to discontinue life support. I was told Gonzales’ mother, father and sister had gathered in the waiting room. I allowed them to come into the room while life support was withdrawn by nursing staff at 1630. Gonzales was declared dead by Dr. Salagundla at 1648 hours.

Investigation revealed Gonzales inflicted her fatal illness on herself by consuming large quantities of water and coffee, then vomiting. She repeated this process over a period of several hours. The dehydration this caused made her brain swell and her body seized. When she arrived at NWTH she was already brain dead. Autopsy report indicates Severe Hyponatremia as cause of death. Investigation to be presented to Potter County Grand Jury for review per SCU policy. Grand Jury declined charges on 11/30/2016. Sgt Dunn 250