SAN ANTONIO – A 19-year-old inmate at the Bexar County Jail is on life support after attempting suicide late Saturday night, the Sheriff's Office confirmed.
Authorities said the 19-year-old, who was being held in solitary confinement, was found hanging in her cell around 11 p.m. by an officer who was conducting face-to-face checks.
While deputies and medical staff performed life-saving measures, authorities said she was taken to Downtown Baptist Hospital and is currently on life support.
The 19-year-old has been at the jail since July 6 on a charge of making a terroristic threat to family, a Class A misdemeanor. A source identified the woman, although KSAT is not identifying her as the Sheriff's Office said the woman's family has not been notified. Online court records show she was being held on a $800 bail.
Authorities said the woman was being held in solitary confinement, which generally consists of 23 hours of lockup with one hour to shower and exercise. Deputies said she was in solitary confinement, referred to as administrative segregation, due to jail history.
Authorities clarified Sunday that it was due to disruptive behavior from this arrest.
Online court records show the inmate was released Sunday, after the suicide attempt, on a personal recognizance bond.
The Sheriff's Office provided the following explanation about the recognizance bond:
The injured inmate was afforded a (personal recognizance bond) after an emergency application for a 'compassionate release' was generated due to being on life support. The PR Bond was then approved by a City Magistrate Judge. Although the inmate qualified to receive a PR Bond during the initial intake process, a bond was not granted due to her domestic violence related charge. Compassionate releases are only requested during anticipatory grief situations in order to provide family members unencumbered access to their loved one. Although the inmate is no longer in BCSO custody, the investigation is being handled to ensure full compliance with Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
The Sheriff's Office's Criminal Investigations Division, Internal Affairs and the Public Integrity Unit are investigating the suicide attempt.