At least seven people have died in custody at the Bexar County Jail in 2025, according to incident reports and internal summaries reviewed by The Hawk’s Eye. The causes range from apparent suicides and overdoses to a fatal assault by a cellmate—each case raising fresh concerns about jail conditions, supervision, and inmate safety at one of Texas’ largest county jails.

These latest fatalities push the total number of in-custody deaths to 104 since January 1, 2017, when Sheriff Javier Salazar first took office.

That figure includes only those who died after being booked into the jail, under the direct care and custody of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. It excludes deaths during transport, in deputy-involved shootings, or in field encounters.

2025 In-Custody Deaths

June 26: Adrianna Lastra – Suicide by Hanging

On June 23, 2025, inmate Adrianna Lastra (SID #1148506) was found hanging by a bed sheet inside her cell (5B08) at approximately 2:09 p.m. during a face-to-face observation check by Deputy Selena Muniz. A prior observation had occurred just 22 minutes earlier. Emergency responders from jail medical staff and the San Antonio Fire Department attempted lifesaving measures and transported Lastra to University Hospital. She remained on life support until June 26, when she was pronounced deceased by Dr. Hasan Baher at 10:29 p.m. Her family later authorized organ donation.

June 18: Wayne Parker – Assault by Cellmate

On June 2, deputies responded to a Code 2 alert in a cell where Inmate Wayne Parker was being violently assaulted by his cellmate, Tommy Lucero (SID #1209093). The incident escalated into a Code 1 Blue after Parker was found unresponsive. He was stabilized and transported to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), where he remained hospitalized and out of county custody. He succumbed to his injuries on June 18 at 9:55 p.m. The Texas Rangers and Medical Examiner were notified shortly after. BCSO officials did not receive notification of the death until the following morning.

June 25: Joanna Ginez – Suspected Overdose

At 6:25 p.m., Deputy Veronica Vargas found inmate Joanna Ginez (SID #959313) unresponsive in her bunk in Unit 1B. Jail staff administered two doses of Narcan while performing CPR. EMS was called, but Ginez was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. by SAFD Paramedic J. Long.

April 30: Francisco Bazan – Medical Emergency

Deputy Gilberto Salazar discovered inmate Francisco Bazan (SID #577456) unresponsive in his bunk at 2:45 a.m. The call was upgraded to a Code 1 Blue three minutes later. Emergency responders, including EMS and jail staff, were unable to revive him. He was pronounced deceased at 3:14 a.m. by Dr. Steven Harper. The cause of death remains under review.

April 18: Eric Green – Found Unresponsive

Eric Green (SID #1169507) was discovered unresponsive in Unit BK around 8:53 a.m. Jail staff initiated CPR, and SAFD took over upon arrival. Despite efforts, Green was pronounced dead at 9:15 a.m. The cause of death is pending autopsy.

March 1: Robert Stevens – Suicide by Ligature

Stevens (SID #1158735) was found seated in his cell with a sheet wrapped around his neck and secured to a sink. Emergency personnel transported him to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:55 p.m. The circumstances suggest death by suicide.

January 30: Baltazar Castaneda – Facial Trauma

Deputy Abel Sifuentes reported finding Baltazar Castaneda (SID #817157) unresponsive at 8:20 a.m., with dry blood under his nose. CPR was initiated immediately and continued by SAFD medics, but he was pronounced dead at 8:39 a.m. by Medical Director Dr. Winkler.

A Growing Death Toll Inside Bexar County Jail

These recent deaths add to a troubling historical record. From 2017 through the end of 2024, the Bexar County Jail reported 97 in-custody deaths, according to the Texas Attorney General’s Office. That amounts to an average of one death per month for eight straight years.

Deaths by Year (2017–2024):

• 2017 – 6
• 2018 – 6
• 2019 – 10
• 2020 – 13
• 2021 – 17
• 2022 – 14
• 2023 – 18
• 2024 – 13

Causes of Death in That Period:

• Natural causes: 45 (46.4%)
• Suicide: 23 (23.7%)
• Accidental: 14 (14.4%)
• Homicide (including justifiable): 9 (9.3%)
• Pending autopsy: 5 (5.2%)
• Undetermined: 1 (1.0%)

Notably, over half of all jail deaths during this period—more than 53%—were from causes other than natural illness, including suicide, homicide, and accidental deaths. Those numbers raise urgent questions about medical and mental health care access, housing decisions, and safety inside the facility.

Oversight and Accountability

Under Texas law, all in-custody deaths must be reported to both the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. While investigations remain pending in several 2025 cases, civil rights groups and watchdogs continue to call for independent oversight and systemic reforms.

Whether awaiting trial or serving a sentence, every person who dies in jail custody does so under the government’s watch. The numbers don’t accuse—but they do demand attention.At least seven people have died in custody at the Bexar County Jail in 2025, according to incident reports and internal summaries reviewed by The Hawk’s Eye. The causes range from apparent suicides and overdoses to a fatal assault by a cellmate—each case raising fresh concerns about jail conditions, supervision, and inmate safety at one of Texas’ largest county jails.

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