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Jenni Lee's Blog

by jennilee from Downtown Austin

Last Post 22 hours Ago


Travis Co. Inmate Death
Jul 22, 2008 | 9:32 PM
Category: News
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The family of Rachel Jackson is very upset after the 21-year-old died in the Travis County Jail Monday morning.  But they are not just upset because of the death but also because they say they can't get a straight answer about how Rachel died.  They claim a detective, a corrections officer, and a victim services counselor gave them three different causes of death.  One said Rachel died in her sleep, another said she had an overdose of medication, and a third said she had a cyst in her brain.  The family is also upset that they weren't notified of Rachel's death until 6 hours later.

There are 3 investigations underway from the Travis County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit, TCSO Internal Affairs, and from the TC Medical Examiner's Office.  No one will know anything until the autopsy report comes back in about 8 weeks.

The family is also fearful that corrections officers didn't know Rachel was schizoprenic and bipolar.

If it's discovered someone did something wrong, what should happen?  What if it was an honest mistake?

See my story for reference.

 

 

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 11
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Busta read my blog
Jul 23, 2008 | 5:01 PM

Wow. I saw your story, that's crazy. It has to be very frustrating for the family, esp. after hearing 3 different causes of death. Jenny, I hope that you will stay on top of this and keep us posted on what you hear about this case.
mathman read my blog view my photos
Jul 23, 2008 | 10:04 PM

Apparently she was using drugs since she was arrested for a parole violation and possession. My biggest question for the family is "why didn't you make sure they knew she was schizophrenic and bipolar?" They knew she was in there because they were going to deposit money into her account. They should have told someone. Shame on them. It seems that, more and more, the law enforcement community must be psychic in addition to everything else. I'm done with this story now because I'm pretty sure they won't be held accountable for their failure to inform officials (who should have had psychic training so they would just know).
citymouse read my blog view my photos
Jul 24, 2008 | 12:23 AM

I agree the family should have informed officials of her condition if they knew she was in jail, BUT why did it take them 6 hrs. to notify the family?? Why did the tell them 3 different stories? Sounds like they are trying to cover their own asses! They should be punished at least for those two reasons.
mathman read my blog view my photos
Jul 24, 2008 | 8:17 PM

6 hours...hmmm...did it happen at night? That would easily explain 6 hours. 3 different people with 3 different stories...sounds like reality. I'll bet if you ask 3 different people the same question, you'll probably get three different answers. Sounds like the detective noted died in sleep because that's probably how she was found (at wake up time), the jail said medical overdose because she came in on a drug charge, and the victim services said cyst...which is the only one I would have a problem with since that person is not a doctor...but maybe there was a report with that as a previous diagnosis that was being read. Gosh...put that way...it actually sounds reasonable...but sure wouldn't make a good story. Again...I'm done with the story, only replying to what I think is unfounded indignation.
jennilee read my blog
Jul 24, 2008 | 11:07 PM

Rachel was found unresponsive at 5:54am. Efforts were made to revive her at 6:07am. According to the Jacksons, authorities said they couldn't get a hold of the family. They eventually found a phone number on a piece of paper on the victim and called him/her.
CRYSTALCHRIS read my blog
Jul 25, 2008 | 5:59 AM

jenni lee I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SAME AGENCIES INVESTIGATING THEMSELVES. THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM IN WASHINGTON EVERYONE KNOWS SOMETHING ON THE NEXT GUY. I APPRECIATE YOUR BRINGING US THIS GREAT STORY WHICH USUALLY DOES NOT GET MUCH COVERAGE THANKS CHRIS RYAN
CRYSTALCHRIS read my blog
Jul 25, 2008 | 6:14 AM

JENNI LEE I THINK IF IT IS FOUND THAT THERE WAS WRONG DOING CHARGES SHOULD BE FILED ON THE LAW BREAKERS. A TUMOR ON THE BRAIN???? WHAT A ODD REASON AND FROM THAT TO DIED IN HER SLEEP!. THEY NEED TO BRING IN AN OUTSIDE AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE ESP. IF HER CIVIL RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED .I HAVE BEEN A GUESTIN THAT JAIL AND I CAN TELL YOU FIRST HAD IT IS NOT SAFE AND OFTEN THEY USE INMATES TO WATCH SUICIDE OR MENTAL PTS. AT NIGHT IN THE WEE HOURS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO RUN GET THE STAFF WHO IS CLOSE BY ,I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY DO THAT ANYMORE ,ALSO MATHMAN I AM APPALED AT YOU ATTITUDE HAVE YOU EVER HAD A LOVED ONE IN JAIL THERE? IF SO YOU WILL KNOW ITS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO GET HELP OR THE FAMILY TELL THEM ANYTHING. AND WHY DO YOU AUTOMATICALLY BLAME HER FOR PENDING CHARGES? ISN'R SHE INNOCENT TILL PROVEN GUILTY? YOU ACT LIKE SHE ALREADY WENT TO TRIAL. I WISH YOU WERE MORE A THINKER BEFORE YOU SPOUT OFF REASONS FOR HER DEATH UNTIL THE WHOLE STORY IS KNOW. DO WE AUTOMATICALLY CONDEMN PAROLE VIOLATERS? WE NEED TO TRY TO HELP THE ADDICT ESP. AS SHE WAS SUFFERING MENTAL DISEASE AT THE TIME. I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE I HAVE BEEN A GUEST MORE THAN ONE TIME IN THE TCJ AND AM NOT ASHAMED TO ADMIT IT C RYAN
jennilee read my blog
Jul 25, 2008 | 4:02 PM

Also know that the Travis County Sheriff's Office is required to turn in a report of Rachel's death to the State Attorney General's Office.
rbb50 read my blog view my photos
Jul 26, 2008 | 12:34 PM

The police enforce the laws on the books and that is all they are allowed to do.

They are not doctors or psychiatrist in any case.

That girl died for some reason I am sure and no one will ever know for what reason until an autopsy has been performed.

People can speculate about why or how someone died all they want but the bottom line is that no one ever lives forever.

It does not matter where they die or how they die in my book and only that they will die eventually no matter what they ever try to do to stop that.

Personally, I am tired of the liberal news stories submitting that so and so might have lived had someone done this or that to save them.

When you want to print a story about how someone has been living forever and never dies at all no matter what then I might be interested in that one.

Printing stories about how so and so may have lived if only this or if only that just tells me the news medias must be watching way to many fantasy cartoons as a way to come up with new news stories.

The real story about the autopsy and how that girl was on heroin meth and nine other drugs at the same time would never make the news if that were found I am sure.

Only the if only this or if only that stories just as a way for the ambulance chasing lawyers to have an excuse for another frivolous law suit against the state.

And then all of the news medias can create another news media frenzy about that story also I’m sure with the if only this or if only that headlines in them.
jennilee read my blog
Jul 26, 2008 | 6:19 PM

A couple of things.

Rachel was found unresponsive at 5:44am, not 5:54am like I previously wrote.

Corrections officers, who have 8 weeks of training, are not police officers, who have several more weeks of training. Corrections officers are in charge of inmates, not police.

What the family is concerned about is 1) no one seemed to know that Rachel was schizoprenic and bipolar...conditions that require medication (she was there a week, plenty of time to find out)and because of that 2) they may have given her wrong medication.

Three investigations, including the autopsy, are under way. They may very well come back and say everything is on the up and up. The family says they just want some answers.
mathman read my blog view my photos
Jul 29, 2008 | 6:22 PM

She was there a week and they didn't call and tell them their relative was schizophrenic and bipolar? I think we have found the guilty parties. Again...we do not provide corrections officers, firemen and police with psychic training. Oh, gosh...I guess it's our fault, now. Geez.
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jennilee

Hi, my name is Jenni Lee and I am a reporter/anchor for Fox 7 News Edge. Let us know what you're thinking about by starting your own blog or commenting on what we're blogging!

Member Since: 10/16/2006


 

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