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An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of death of a Texas inmate who was killed within an East Texas prison during a statewide lockdown this week.
Billy Chemirmir, who was accused of killing 22 elderly women and one man in North Texas, was found dead in his cell Tuesday after investigators say he was killed by his cellmate, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesperson Hannah Haney said. The incident was first reported by The Dallas Morning News late Wednesday.
Chermirmir, an inmate at the Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, was part of the 3,818-bed facility situated east of Palestine. Coincidentally, this was the same unit where a previous violent incident took place between another inmate and staff. Interestingly, this incident occurred just a day before the Texas Department of Criminal Justice declared a statewide lockdown across all 100 prisons.
A correctional officer in a high security unit was stabbed by an inmate at the Coffield Unit on Sept. 5. In response to this incident, TDCJ officers used excessive force, which deviated from established protocols, according to Amanda Hernandez, a spokesperson for the prison system, as reported by The Texas Tribune.
Following an internal review of the incident, seven correctional officers were dismissed from their positions, while an additional six officers chose to resign.
“The inmate is currently undergoing recovery at the hospital,” she informed, adding, “This occurrence has been referred to the Office of Inspector General for criminal investigation.”
The name of the inmate who was hospitalized after being assaulted by correctional officers was not disclosed by TDCJ.
Also on Sept. 5, some 200 miles away in Beaumont, 29-year-old Uriel Neri was killed by fellow inmates at the Mark W. Stiles Unit, according to agency reports. The agency said this incident is still under investigation.
The very next day – Sept. 6 – TDCJ announced a systemwide lockdown of all 100 prisons. The agency denies the violent incidents were the reason for the lockdown, which was supposed to restrict the movement of 129,000 inmates in their custody and allow a series of intense searches for contraband.
Hernandez cited the occurrence of 16 inmate homicides this year as a key factor leading to the implementation of the lockdown.
Hernandez stated that the implementation was prompted by the rise in homicides. “We had seven homicides last year and nine the year before,” he pointed out.
In the duration of the lockdown, the agency has conducted searches in all 50 state prisons, aiming to locate illicit goods. Thus far, prison officials have successfully seized a significant number of prohibited items, including 196 cell phones, 34.5 gallons of alcohol, 274 weapons, as well as varying quantities of amphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, PCP, and synthetic marijuana.
According to Hernandez, the TDCJ Office of Inspector General has opened over 500 criminal investigations related to illegal activity involving inmates, staff, and prison visitors.
Currently, regular operations including visitations have resumed in 50 of the state’s prisons.
Prison advocates question whether this lockdown is creating more damage than good as rumors of inedible food, lack of showers and crippling isolation are starting to pour out of the prison system. More than two-thirds of Texas prisons are unairconditioned, and restricting movement and showers of inmates when temperatures were still reaching 100 degrees or more outside, could mean more unrest inside.
According to a spokesperson from TDCJ, inmates are provided with ice water throughout the day, and they have access to water in their cells via the sinks.
According to Michele Deitch, the director of the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, she appreciates the agency’s attempt to address the violence within their prison system. However, she considers a statewide lockdown to be an excessive measure.
She remarked, “Using a hammer in this situation is like using a scalpel when more precision is required. This approach is too forceful and will likely lead to additional issues that they’ll have to deal with.”
According to Deitch, during a prison lockdown, inmates are prohibited from reaching out to their friends or family, resulting in significant mental stress that will persist even after the lockdown ends.
“The confinement within a cramped space resembling a bathroom, without the freedom to roam or engage in recreational activities, generates significant tension,” she explained. “This tension permeates through interactions with cellmates, dorm mates, and even staff, resulting in heightened levels of violence among those incarcerated.”
Although state prison agency officials say 16 inmate homicides have occurred this year their online custodial death reports revealed only 11 homicides this year. That’s because, Hernandez said, the agency records online were filed before TDCJ officials received final toxicology and autopsy reports from local hospitals and medical centers.
As of the commencement of lockdown, the TDCJ custodial death reports indicate that a total of 20 inmates have passed away. Out of these incidents, 13 were classified as “natural” deaths, while four cases are still awaiting autopsy results and three individuals tragically lost their lives by suicide. It is important to note that the aforementioned figure does not encompass the custodial death report pertaining to the murder of Chemirmir, as it had not been published as of Thursday morning.
Concerns were raised by relatives and friends of inmates who contacted The Texas Tribune last week regarding the extreme heat, insufficient access to cold water, and inadequate food quantities within the prisons.
An anonymous parent of an inmate expressed concerns about the recurring lockdowns at Hughes Unit, stating that this will be the second extended period of confinement within the past six months. The parent mentioned that her son experienced significant weight loss and developed claustrophobia during the previous lockdown, as the small space and extremely high temperatures of 106 degrees took a toll on him. Unfortunately, the parent shared her worries about history repeating itself as another lockdown is now underway.
Texas prisoners are also posting TikTok videos showing the food being served to them during the lockdown calling it inedible.
Hernandez, spokesperson for the prison agency, denied the allegations of poor food quality in their prison facilities and said videos or pictures circulating online didn’t represent the meals provided to their inmate population.
According to her, TDCJ has a team of staff members stationed throughout the state to oversee the food’s quality and quantity. Amidst the lockdown, three meals are offered daily, including a hot meal. Furthermore, TDCJ is including items from the commissary in the sack meals twice a week.
