The FBI is opening civil rights investigations into the deaths of two men in Harris County Jail.
In posted Monday afternoon, the FBI announced that it鈥檚 scrutinizing the deaths of Jaquaree Simmons and Jacoby Pillow, who both died in custody following an altercation with jail staff. Their deaths took place almost two years apart.
These probes come after a request last week from the Harris County Sheriff's Office, which operates the downtown Houston jail, according to a Monday .
鈥淚 look forward to learning the FBI鈥檚 findings, because we must all know the full truth if we are to improve our operation and make the jail as safe as possible for everyone entrusted into our care,鈥� said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez in the press release.
Simmons, a 23-year-old man who had mental health issues, was arrested in February 2021 on a felony weapons charge. A week later, he was found dead in his cell. Harris County鈥檚 medical examiner would eventually rule Simmons鈥� death as .
An investigation by the Harris County Sheriff鈥檚 Office that staff had used excessive force and failed to document it or intervene, on top of making false claims to investigators. As a result, the sheriff鈥檚 office suspended six detention officers and fired 11 others. And earlier this month, a grand jury charged Eric Niles Morales 鈥� the 6-foot-5-inch former detention officer who allegedly kneed the 5-foot-4-inch Simmons in the head, struck his head against a door and then dropped him on his head 鈥� with .
LaRhonda Biggles, Simmons鈥� mother, told The Texas Tribune on Monday that she鈥檚 鈥渆xcited and happy鈥� to hear about the FBI鈥檚 investigation. She鈥檚 not satisfied with the manslaughter charge against Morales, noting that it should have been more severe. She also said more detention officers should face criminal charges beyond being fired or suspended.
鈥淚 just want justice for Jaquaree,鈥� Biggles said.
鈥淚 feel like I owe that to him to get that justice for him because he laid there and died by himself alone. As a mom, that's horrible. 鈥� I'm working really hard to try to keep myself from breaking or cracking because it's like reliving it all over again, but I am glad to know the [investigations] are there.鈥�
Pillow鈥檚 death in early January is at Harris County Jail.
The 31-year-old man was initially arrested for a misdemeanor allegation of trespassing and was set to be released on a $100 bond a few days later. But the Harris County Sheriff鈥檚 Office claimed that he assaulted a jail officer, resulting in staff using 鈥渇orce鈥� to restrain him.
Pillow was found dead the following morning, though the sheriff鈥檚 office said he had been examined by medical personnel before being returned to his cell.
The Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff's Office have since opened into Pillow鈥檚 death.
鈥淭he facts of this case are extremely alarming, and they point to a pattern and culture of inmate abuse that we have seen before in Harris County facilities,鈥� Ben Crump, an attorney representing Pillow鈥檚 family, last month. 鈥淭here is no legitimate excuse for this young man to have lost his life for an arrest on a misdemeanor charge right as he was about to get out on bail.鈥�
Crump also earlier on Monday urging the Department of Justice to investigate deaths at the jail.
Since Pillow鈥檚 death last month, at least at Harris County Jail. They followed a last year, where 27 people died while in custody at the county jail. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo that 鈥渢he entire system does have challenges鈥� and announced initiatives to address overcrowding, but advocates say more needs to be done.
In its statement, the FBI said its investigations will 鈥減roceed independently of any state investigations.鈥� The agency has also stated that it will not be publicly sharing details about the ongoing investigations to protect their 鈥渋ntegrity and capabilities.鈥�
鈥淭hese investigations will be fair, thorough, and impartial,鈥� the FBI鈥檚 statement said.