TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Two Tarrant County Jail inmates died after separate medical emergencies within four days, while a third remained on life support after suffering a brain bleed.
Mack Greer, 46, was transferred from the jail to John Peter Smith Hospital after he was found unresponsive, according to KERA. Family members said Greer suffered a severe brain bleed and was placed on life support. He was declared brain dead, his family told KERA.
The circumstances surrounding Greer’s injury remain unclear.
During a June 19 press conference, Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons called for greater transparency and questioned the handling of the case. Greer’s family said they have received limited information about what occurred before he was hospitalized.
The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office disputed several claims made during the press conference, describing the event as “political grandstanding” and stating that some information presented was inaccurate.
According to the sheriff’s office, Greer remained alive as of June 19 and had been granted a compassionate release by a judge after being hospitalized. Sheriff’s officials said compassionate release is commonly used when an inmate is in failing health and no longer poses a threat to the community.
The sheriff’s office also noted that Greer had a significant medical history that predated his incarceration, including what it described as a lifelong genetic disorder, according to KERA.
The case comes as the sheriff’s office investigates two other inmate deaths that occurred earlier in the week.
According to the sheriff’s office, 40-year-old James Johnson suffered a medical emergency in his cell on June 15 and later died at a local hospital. A second inmate, 40-year-old Carl McCray, was found unresponsive the following day and also died after being transported for treatment.
FOX 4 reported that both men had declined medical assessments during the booking process. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating both deaths and will determine their causes.
Simmons said the recent incidents warrant additional scrutiny, while sheriff’s officials said the jail continues efforts to identify and address inmates’ medical and mental health needs.
“We remain committed to offering appropriate care and ensuring every person in our custody is treated with professionalism and dignity,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement reported by WFAA.
No cause of Greer’s injury has been publicly released, and it remains unclear whether the sheriff’s office will conduct an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his hospitalization.
