Story updated 4/4/2023 at 5:05 p.m.
Tarrant County commissioners remain tight-lipped about the results of a third-party review into a Tarrant County jail inmate鈥檚 death, while community members demand to know what the review found.
Commissioners ordered a review of the autopsy of Robert Miller, a 38-year-old man who died in 2019. Miller鈥檚 autopsy, performed by Tarrant County Deputy Medical Examiner Richard Fries, found that Miller died due to sickle cell disease. found that Miller "almost certainly鈥� didn鈥檛 have sickle cell disease and suggested that his true cause of death was his treatment behind bars.
After that investigation, the county hired a forensic pathologist from Illinois to review Miller's case. The pathologist鈥檚 contract expired in February, according to the contract's original terms, but the results have yet to be released to the public.
On Tuesday, several Tarrant County residents stood before the Commissioners Court to demand the release of that autopsy review. Most were members of , who are .
Broadway鈥檚 pastor, Ryon Price, called for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Miller鈥檚 death, and greater transparency from Tarrant County.
鈥淩obert Miller was not garbage. He was a man. He was a human being, and his life mattered,鈥� Price said.
Top Tarrant County officials remain silent about the autopsy. County administrator G.K. Maenius declined comment through a county spokesperson. County Judge Tim O鈥橦are鈥檚 chief of staff, Andy Nguyen, declined comment on O鈥橦are鈥檚 behalf. A representative of Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks鈥� office also declined comment, as did Commissioner Gary Fickes and Commissioner Alisa Simmons.
四虎影院 also reached out to Commissioner Manny Ramirez.
Price, and other members of the public, pointed out that this week is the leadup to Easter, the most important Christian holiday.
God calls for justice, fairness and truth, Broadway Baptist member Jennifer Nelson told commissioners.
"We deserve to know that we can entrust the care of our citizens, when arrested, to be fair and humane," Nelson said.
