Murat Dalmizrak

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 24-1067-CJ Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 7/24/2024 1:26 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Brazoria County 3602 County Road Agency Name: Agency Address: Sheriff's Office 45 Agency City: Angleton Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77515 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Leonard Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Stallman Reporter Name: Clinton Lobpries Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 9 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Murat Middle Name: Last Name: Dalmizrak Suffix: Date of Birth: 10/1/1992 Sex: Male Race: Other Age At Time Of Death: 31 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 6/13/2024 11:35 Incident: AM Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): 6/13/2024 11:35 Death Date and Time: AM 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 9 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: 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 Not Applicable death?: 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 Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 9 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? 3602 County Road Street Address: City: Angleton 45 County: Brazoria Zip: 77515 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 - single 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: 4/2/2023 10:57 PM Where did the death occur? Law enforcement Death Location: facility/booking center General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 9 --- 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: Assault on a Public Servant Offense 2: Assault on a Peace Officer Offense 3: Criminal Mischief Were the Charges:: Filed What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Violent Crime Against Persons; Type of Offense: Crime Against Property 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 Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 9 --- PAGE BREAK --- problems?: No Exhibit any medical problems?: No 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: On 6-13-2024, I, Investigator J. Dorsett with the Brazoria County Sheriff`s Office, was assigned to CID Office Duty from 0800hrs-1700hrs. At approximately 1135hrs, I was contacted by CID Sgt. C. Lobpries in reference to an ambulance call in the Brazoria County Sheriff`s Office (BCSO) Jail in which an Inmate hung himself. Sgt. Lobpries advised that Texas Ranger A. Arizmendi has already been notified of the call and will be responding shortly. Sgt. Lobpries requested that I respond to the jail and notify the ID Division so that we could assist with the investigation. I notified ID Sgt. Shanks of the call, who advised that ID Investigator Minshew would be responding to assist. I responded to the BCSO Jail Booking and observed multiple Deputy Jailers in the area of A-Row, which is an area of single-man cells just off of the booking area. In the back row of A-Row cells, I observed that the door to cell # A1Z (door # 126) was open and that EMS medics and BCSO Jail staff were actively preforming CPR on a male inmate in this cell. I observed that additional Jail staff and Jail Medical personnel were standing outside this cell waiting to assist if needed. I observed that one of the Deputy Jailers waiting outside the cell was operating the jail handheld camera to document the events occurring within cell. This cell (A1Z) is a single-man cell with a single point of entry into the cell being a metal cell door. Inside this cell, I observed a single bed against the right wall as you enter this cell. I observed that this bed is a low metal bunk with an attached metal desk on the portion of the bed frame nearest the metal cell door. This bed/desk is bolted to the floor to prevent it from being moved around inside the cell. At the far end of this cell, against the wall furthest from the cell door, I observed a metal combination toilet/sink to be bolted to the wall and floor. On the wall above the toilet/sink, I observed a small mirror, an electrical socket, and an intercom. In the far-right corner of this cell, between the bed and the toilet, I observed a concrete wall that separated the shower area from the rest of the cell. I observed that this concrete shower wall did not extend all the way up to the ceiling, leaving a gap of approximately 2 feet between the top of the wall and the ceiling. I observed that the opening to enter Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 9 --- PAGE BREAK --- the shower area was toward the toilet to prevent anyone from looking into the shower area from the cell door. I observed a small shelf to be attached to the right cell wall, close to the shower wall. I observed what appeared to be orange BCSO-issued inmate clothing, a Styrofoam container, and a chip bag on this shelf. I observed that the male inmate that was in the cell was on the concrete floor, between the bed and the left wall of the cell, and that the medics and jail personnel inside the cell continued with life saving measures. I was unable to see the entirety of the interior of this cell at this time due to the number of people inside the cell assisting with the inmate. The medics and jail staff placed the male inmate on a backboard and transferred him to the awaiting EMS stretcher. The inmate was then moved to the ambulance in the Sally port and transported to the UTMB Angleton-Danbury ER with CPR still in progress. 3. I contacted BCSO Jail Lt. Crowson and learned that he was checking on a maintenance issue in A-Row cell # A1A, which is directly across the hall from Cell # A1Z, when he detected a strange odor in the area. Lt. Crowson advised that he knows that there has been an issue with the inmates in cells A1Z and A1Y in which they will not clean their cells, which results in an unpleasant smell in this portion of the hallway. Lt. Crowson advised that he opened the exterior metal viewing door to cell A1Z to look inside the cell through the viewing window, but he did not immediately see the inmate inside the cell. Lt. Crowson advised that he continued to look inside the cell and he noticed what appeared to be orange BCSO-issued inmate clothing and the white mattress cover to be tied together like a makeshift rope, extending from a leg of the bed nearest the shower wall and over the top of the shower wall. Lt. Crowson advised that he requested additional jail staff come to the cell to assist with checking on the inmate in this cell. Lt. Crowson stated that jail staff entered the cell and located the inmate assigned to this cell, Murat Dalmizrak DOB 10-1-1992, to be in the shower area, against the partial shower wall, with the other end of the makeshift rope (made from the orange BCSO-issued inmate clothing and white mattress cover) to be tied around Dalmizrak`s neck. Lt. Crowson advised that cutters were used to cut the makeshift rope between the bed and the shower wall and Dalmizrak was assisted to the ground. Lt. Crowson advised that Dalmizrak was not breathing and Jail staff began preforming CPR while waiting on Jail Medical staff and EMS to arrive to assist. I contacted BCSO Jail Capt. Williams in the A-Row hallway and advised him that I would be assisting with the investigation. Capt. Williams advised that they are in the process of downloading the scan logs and the security footage from the cameras in this portion of the jail. While I was speaking with Capt. Williams, I was contacted on my county cell phone by Texas Ranger Arizmendi. I advised Texas Ranger Arizmendi that Dalmizrak was being transported to the hospital via ambulance and he advised that he will proceed to the hospital. Texas Ranger Arizmendi requested that ID Investigator Minshew go to the hospital to ensure that any evidence is preserved. Texas Ranger Arizmendi also requested that Dalmizrak`s cell be secured until he has a chance to look at it. I contacted ID Investigator Minshew via my county cell phone and requested that he go to the hospital instead of the jail. I requested that A-row cell # A1Z be secured and that the door not be opened again until Texas Ranger Arizmendi arrived. This cell door was closed to secure the cell at approximately 1150hrs. I used my county issued cell phone to take photographs of the A1Z cell door once it was secured. I observed several papers to be taped to the exterior of the cell door once it was secured. I observed a yellow paper in the top left corner of the exterior of the cell door that read "STYROFOAM ONLY DO NOT PROVIDE INMATE WITH HARD CUP PER SGT. CORNEJO 7/2/2023". I observed a white "Segregation Observation Sheet" below this yellow paper that showed the name of the inmate to be "Dalmizrak, Murat", his S.O. # "192046", and his "DATE IN: 4/4/23". I observed that this "Segregation Observation Sheet" acted as a daily calendar for the month of June 2024 in which the date and time was logged for when breakfast, lunch, and dinner was served to Dalmizrak and a Deputy would sign or initial when each meal was served. In the top right corner of this cell door, above the open external metal viewing door, I observed a white printed sign that read "No paper Per SGT Cornejo 07/26/23". I observed "including sandwich bags" to be handwritten under the printed letters. I observed that another yellow piece of paper was under this white printed sign, but it was partially covered by the open external metal viewing door and I was unable to read the sign. I observed a red box to be secured to the metal cell door, under the viewing window, which I learned was used to log the electronic scans that are conducted at each segregation cell every 20 minutes. Using my county-issued cell phone, I took photographs of the interior of cell A1Z, through the viewing window, to document the way that the interior of the cell looked when the door was secured. I observed the make-shift rope made from orange BCSO-issued inmate clothing and the white mattress cover to be lying on the cell floor near where Dalmizrak had been lying when I arrived at the cell. I observed a dark colored mattress to be on the bed along with a gray BCSO-issued jail blanket and other white items. I observed white Styrofoam food trays to be on top of the attached desk and under the bed. These photographs were later submitted to ID as evidence. I contacted Jail Sgt. V. Jasso and he provided me with a copy of a handwritten log that he advised that he began keeping once he arrived at the cell to assist with this incident. I observed this handwritten log to read as follows: " "1126 Medical & extra staff arrived" " "1127 EMS contacted. Chest compressions started by jail staff" " "1128 EAD started. No shock advised. Compressions continued" " "1133 No shock advised compressions continued" " "1135 No shock advised - compressions continued" " "1138 No shock advised - compressions continued" " "1140 No shock advised - compressions continued" Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 9 --- PAGE BREAK --- " "1145 EMS entered cell" " "1142 No shock advised - compressions continued" " "1145 Being placed on stretcher - no shock advised" " "1148 Placed in Ambulance. Chest compressions still going" " "1150 Unit leaving sally port for UTMB Angleton" I observed that this handwritten log was signed by "Sgt. V. Jasso #1025" at "1153hrs". I observed "Dalmizrak, Murat # 192046" to be handwritten at the bottom of this log. Contact was again made with Capt. Williams to advise him that I would be heading to the hospital. Capt. Williams advised me that Dalmizrak was confirmed as being deceased at 1212hrs by the ER Doctor. Capt. Williams provided me with a printout of Dalmizrak`s booking information that showed that he was arrested on 4-2-2023 by BCSO Patrol Deputy M. Mowery for Assault Peace Officer/Judge (Cause # DJ230140, JP 2/2), Criminal Mischief (Case # DJ230141, JP 2/2), and Assault Public Servant Other Than Peace Officer or Judge (cause # DJ230353, JP 2/2). I observed that the address listed for Dalmizrak is 9707 Gessner # 3803 in Houston, TX 77071. I observed that Dalmizrak`s place of birth is listed as Turkey and that no next of kin was listed. I asked Capt. Williams if they had any record of next of kin for Dalmizrak and he advised that they did not. Capt. Williams provided me with a copy of the electronic scan logs for Dalmizrak since 0009hrs this morning. I reviewed these logs and observed that Dalmizrak shows to have accepted a meal at 1006hrs. I observed that Dalmizrak shows to have been checked on at 10:10, 10:27, 10:47, and 11:06 and he was logged as "Well-Being Check Inmate and Cell OK (A1Z)". I observed that the Deputy listed for these scans since 0543 this morning is "jgomez". I observed that a scanned entry was made at 1130 by "dcornejo" that shows "On Floor (CPR in progress)". I observed that additional scanned entries were made by "dcornejo" at 11:32, 11:35, 11:37, 11:38, 11:41, and 11:42. I know that "dcornejo" is BCSO Jail Sgt. Cornejo and I learned in a later interview with her that she was attempting to use the scanner to document a time log similar to the one that Sgt. Jasso was handwriting. Capt. Williams provided me with a copy of the BCSO jail Infirmary "Emergency Room Visit" report that documents that the Jail Infirmary staff responded to Dalmizrak`s cell due to him being "unresponsive, CPR started". I observed the diagnosis to be listed as "CPR-PT found unresponsive". I observed the provider to be listed as "Virginia Milligan", the mode of transportation listed as "Ambulance" and the time of departure to be listed as "11:48 AM". The above-mentioned documentation obtained from Sgt. Jasso and Capt. Williams were later added to this case in RMS as attachments. I went to the UTMB Angleton-Danbury ER, located at 132 E Hospital Dr in Angleton, Brazoria County, Texas, and met with ID Investigator Minshew and Texas Ranger Arizmendi outside of Treatment Room #10. I observed that the clear door to this room was secured and Ranger Arizmendi contacted Judge Davis (JP 2/2) at approximately 1235hrs to get permission to enter the room to observe the body. Permission to enter the room was granted by the judge and we entered the room after ID Investigator took his initial photographs. Upon entering this room, I observed a body to be lying on a hospital bed with a white sheet covering his body and a white towel covering his face. I observed various medical equipment and wires to be hooked up to the body under the sheet. I observed blood to be on the floor around the hospital bed and on some of the clear hoses that were connected to the body. ID Investigator Minshew removed the blanket and the towel that was covering the body and I observed a naked male to be lying on a yellow backboard on top of this hospital bed. I observed the male`s head to be turned toward his right shoulder and a "C" collar to be just right and under his head. I observed that the male`s left eye was partially open and his mouth was open to accommodate the hose that had been put in his mouth during life-saving measures. I observed that the male on this bed had a beard and black hair. I observed that this male matched the photograph on the booking paperwork for Murat Dalmizrak. I observed that Dalmizrak had a few small scars on his body that appeared to be from old injuries. I observed blood to be smeared on the yellow backboard and on a few places on Dalmizrak`s upper body that appeared to be coming from the hose in Dalmizrak`s mouth. I observed a white medical armband from UTMB Health on Dalmizrak that was labeled as "728544A" "M" "6/13/1993" "ADCJUNETWENTYFOUR, Charl" "114637013". Dalmizrak`s body was rolled onto his right side and I observed lividity along his lower back. I observed several small sores on Dalmizrak`s buttocks that appeared to be in various stages of healing. A white towel was observed under Dalmizrak`s hips that I later learned had been wrapped around Dalmizrak`s body in a makeshift loincloth when he was found unresponsive in his cell. At approximately 1245hrs, Judge Davis arrived on scene at the hospital to conduct the inquest and he advised that he will use "1212hrs" as the time of death since this is the time that the hospital confirmed Dalmizrak displayed no signs of life. I completed page #1 and page #3 of the Death Investigation Report and they were provided to ID Investigator Minshew. Judge Davis advised that he contacted Corl`s Transport Service at approximately 1236hrs and they arrived at the hospital at approximately 1345hrs. Dalmizrak`s body was placed inside a body bag and the bag was sealed with tag # 5514154 at approximately 1352hrs. Corl`s then transported Dalmizrak`s body to the Galveston County Medical Examiner`s Office for an autopsy. Texas Ranger Arizmendi, ID Investigator Minshew, and I then went back to the BCSO Jail and went to A-Row cell # A1Z. I observed that two strips of yellow crime scene tape had been added to the exterior of the cell door after I left the jail. I observed that this crime scene tape had been placed on the door so that the tape on the left side of the door frame would break if the door was opened. ID Investigator Minshew took his initial photographs of the cell door. The exterior metal viewing door was closed and I observed a white sign on the exterior of the metal viewing door that read "TWO MAN ESCORT FULL RESTRAINTS TWO MAN ESCORT FULL RESTRAINTS". I observed that the yellow sign that had previously been hidden by the open exterior Custodial Death Report :: Page 8 of 9 --- PAGE BREAK --- viewing door to read "Caution When opening food port Inmate will take food port hostage". At approximately 1426hrs, I requested that the cell door be opened and ID Investigator entered the cell to take photographs. After taking photographs, ID Investigator Minshew assisted Texas Ranger Arizmendi with taking measurements of the interior of the cell. I entered the cell and observed orange BCSO-issued inmate pants to be tied to the right leg of the bed closest to the shower wall. I observed several Styrofoam trays containing misc. food items to be in different areas of the cell. I observed chip bags, dust bunnies, and other misc. trash to be scattered around the room. I observed that the only writings in the cell were the BCSO jail rules. I observed the green jail identification armband that is issued to each inmate during the booking process to positively identify them was torn and stuffed in the shower drain. After all evidence requested by Texas Ranger Arizmendi was collected from the cell by ID Investigator Minshew, the cell was again secured and released to the jail staff so that they could clean the cell before putting it back in use. Contact was made with Lt. Crowson and Capt. Williams in reference to conducting interviews with the Deputies involved in this incident. Interviews were conducted by Texas Ranger Arizmendi in one of the spare office`s in the booking area and I was present for these interviews. The following Deputies were interviewed: Deputy D. Duffey, Sgt. V. Jasso, Lt. V. Crowson, Deputy C. Phillips, Deputy P. Villarreal, Deputy M. King, and Sgt. D. Cornejo. Due to the jail staff making shift change, Texas Ranger Arizmendi advised that he will follow-up with the other jail staff involved in this incident at a later time. Texas Ranger Arizmendi provided me with a copy of the written statements obtained from the above Deputies and they were added to this case in RMS as attachments. On 6-14-2024 at approximately 0900hrs, I accompanied ID Investigator Minshew and Texas Ranger Arizmendi to the Galveston County Medical Examiner`s Office for the autopsy of Murat Dalmizrak. The autopsy was preformed by Dr. Erin Barnhart. At approximately 0910hrs, I received a call from the Turkish Embassy, who advised that Dalmizrak`s next of kin, Fatma Dalmizrak DOB 3-31-2001 (sister), had been notified of her brother`s death and she would like to talk with me. The Embassy advised that a Turkish translator would be needed in order to speak with Fatma Dalmizrak as they would not be able to translate for me over the phone. I advised the Turkish Embassy that I would need time to make arrangements for a Turkish translator. The Embassy provided me with PS# 01190 555-074-2684 so that I could reach Fatma Dalmizrak once I found a translator. At approximately 0953hrs, I received a call from Fatma Dalmizrak at the number that was provided to me by the Turkish Embassy. A male then got on the phone and identified himself as Mehmet Coskun DOB 6-5-1985, a cousin to Fatma and Murat Dalmizrak that spoke English and was willing to translate so that I could speak with Fatma. I advised Mehmet Coskun that Murat passed away while in jail and it appears that he hung himself while in his cell. I advised Mehmet Coskun that the autopsy is ongoing as we speak and that the Texas Rangers are leading the investigation into Murat Dalmizrak`s death. As I was speaking with Mehmet Coskun, I could hear him translating the information to someone in another language and a female was responding to him. Mehmet Coskun asked what would happen to Murat Dalmizrak`s body and how can they find out further information about how he died. I advised Mehmet Coskun that we could not release further information about the case until the investigation was completed. I also advised Mehmet Coskun that the Turkish Embassy in Houston, TX advised that they would be willing to assist his family with making the proper arrangements to claim Murat`s body. Mehmet Coskun thanked me for speaking with them and advised that he would be available to assist with translations if I needed to speak with Fatma Dalmizrak again. At approximately 1006hrs, I received another call from the Turkish Embassy to confirm that I was able to speak with Fatma and to request information on what they would have to do to make arrangements for the body of Murat Dalmizrak. I advised the Embassy that the autopsy is still in progress at this time, but I will provide contact information for the Turkish Embassy and Fatma Dalmizrak to the Galveston County Medical Examiner`s Office so that arrangements could be made once the autopsy is completed. A short time later Dr. Barnhart advised us that the autopsy was complete and that there were no signs of any other injuries or trauma to Murat Dalmizrak`s body. The next of kin and Turkish Embassy information was provided to the Medical Examiner`s Office staff. Custodial Death Report :: Page 9 of 9