Carlos Alberto Varela

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 21-203-CJ Version Type: AMENDED 4/27/2021 12:19 Report Date: Status: Submitted PM Agency/Facility Information Crane County Agency Name: Agency Address: PO BOX 1175 Sheriff's Office Agency City: Crane Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 79731 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Andrew Director Middle Name: R Director Last Name: Aguilar Reporter Name: Sergio Sifuentez Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Carlos Middle Name: Alberto Last Name: Varela Suffix: Date of Birth: 9/23/1976 Sex: Male Race: Hispanic or Latino Age At Time Of Death: 44 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 2/20/2020 7:42 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 2/17/2021 2:17 PM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Manner of Death: Suicide Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Cause of death was determined as hanging. Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: No If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Who caused the death?: Decedent If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Other Weapon, death?: specify: Other weapon, specify: A bedding sheet fashioned into a knot to cause asphyxiation. Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Hanging, Means of Death: strangulation Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 201 W 6th St City: Crane County: Crane Zip: 79731 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Law Enforcement Location Category: Facility What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Type of Custody: County Jail Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Jail - multiple occupancy cell What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: 2/20/2020 7:42 PM Where did the death occur? Death Location: Medical facility General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: Yes 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: AGG SEXUAL ASSAULT CHILD 22.021(a)(2)(B) PC F1 (Out of Crane County) Offense 2: AGG SEXUAL ASSAULT CHILD 22.021(a)(2)(B) PC F1 (Out of Crane County) Offense 3: AGG SEXUAL ASSAULT CHILD 22.021(a)(2)(B) PC F1 (Out of Val Verde) Were the Charges:: Filed What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Crimes Against Type of Offense: Child(ren) At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of No weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: No At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or No Make suicidal statements?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health No Exhibit any medical problems?: No problems?: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or No No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's No No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to No No including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession No officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: Carlos Alberto Varela, D.O.B: 09-23-1976, Texas D.L. 03733586, was arrested on November 22, 2021, on three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, 1st Degree Felony. Carlos Varela was magistrate by Justice of the Peace Twilah Ward and given a bond amount of $100,000.00 on each charge for a total of $300,000.00 in bonds. Carlos Varela was unable to make bond and had requested a trial by jury. Due to Covid-19 related issues, a jury trial had not been set. Carlos Alberto Varela has been in the custody and care of the Crane County Sheriff’s Office Jail for over eleven months. During the span of the eleven months inmate Carlos Varela incarceration at the Crane County Sheriff’s Office he never made any indications that he was suffering from depression or any mental issues. A mandated suicide screening, continuity of care and medical questions forms were completed by jail staff. The continuity of care revealed no matches for any past mental health treatment. Carlos Varela was classified and reclassified per TITLE 37 PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS PART 9 CHAPTER 271 CLASSIFICATION AND SEPARATION OF INMATES RULE §271.1 Objective Classification Plan. On the 02/14/2021 Crane County Sheriff's Office Jailer Abigail Meza was conducting hourly inmate observations. At approximately 0920hrs Jailer Abigail Meza observed that inmate Carlos Alberto Varela DOB 09/23/1976 had a piece of white bedding wrapped around his neck. Jailer Meza quickly removed the white bedding with her issued rescue hook blade. Jailer Meza immediately notified Local emergency medical services, additional staff to the Crane County Jail. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated on inmate Varela and was taken over by ems staff. Inmate Carlos Varela was taken to Crane Memorial Hospital emergency room for further medical care. Crane Memorial hospital medical staff evaluated inmate Carlos Varela; he was then transported to Odessa Medical Center Hospital for further medical care. Inmate Carlos Varela was admitted into the intensive care unit at the Odessa Medical Center Hospital. On 02/17/2021 at 2:17 PM three days after inmate Carlos Varela was admitted into Odessa Medical Center Hospital inmate Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Carlos Varela was pronounced dead by the attending doctor. Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers were notified prior to the death of inmate Varela due to the suicide attempt on 02/14/2021. Texas Ranger Brian Burney was the Ranger assigned to the custodial death investigation. The body of the deceased was sent to the South Plains Medical Examiner in Lubbock Texas for an autopsy results are still pending. As of 04/20/2021 the Crane County Sheriff's Office received the Ector County Medical Examiner's Official Report for Varela, Carlos Alberto DOB 09-23-1976. The Autopsy was conducted by Nizam Peerwani MD at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's District Morgue in Fort Worth Texas on the 23rd day of February 2021. The Autopsy was initiated at 12:05 PM, and upon investigation of the essential facts concerning the circumstances of the death and history of the case as known to Dr. Peerwani he concluded the cause of death of Varela Carlos Alberto was due to suicide by hanging. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7