Houston Public Media: 3 more people died in Harris County Jail, raising 2024’s in-custody death toll to 10

Three people died last month while in custody at the Harris County Jail, raising the total number of in-custody deaths in 2024 to 10 — the lowest number of reported deaths in years.

The three men died at different times throughout December from apparent medical emergencies within the jail, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Byron Burton, 62, was booked into the jail on Nov. 15 after being charged with theft. On the morning of Dec. 4, he “laid motionless” on the floor of his cell after suffering from an “apparent medical emergency,” according to his custodial death report filed with the Texas Attorney General’s Office. He was eventually brought to the facility’s clinic, where he was pronounced dead at 10:17 a.m.

Cerdarian Oneal-Thompson, 31, was brought into the jail on Nov. 4 after being hit with a plethora of charges, including murder. Authorities say he suffered from a medical emergency about a month later and was brought to Ben Taub Hospital — he was pronounced dead on Dec. 9 at 7:40 a.m.

Nearly three weeks later, 65-year-old Anthony Thomas died in the jail’s clinic on Dec. 28 after experiencing a medical emergency in his cell, according to the sheriff’s office. Thomas had been in custody for 220 days before his death after being booked in May on an aggravated assault charge.

The three recent deaths remain under investigation by the Houston Police Department. Autopsies are being conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.