Female Inmate Dies at County Jail

Weeks after federal investigators told the Harris County Jail to shape up, there's more trouble.

Over the weekend, a female inmate died while in custody. Details surrounding the death of Theresa Anthony, 29, aren't known, including how she died.

By all accounts, Anthony was healthy but not perfect. he was locked up in the jail on a marijuana possession charge for two and a half weeks.

On Saturday, Anthony's mom got a phone call on her cell phone while driving. It was a chaplain from the jail, telling Cynthia Prude her daughter had died.

"I almost got in a wreck," said Prude. "I thought somebody was playing on the phone. I would like to know what happened to my daughter."

Activist Quannel X and the family would also like a policy change. They want the Harris County Sheriff's Office to send a chaplain along with a deputy to inform loved ones in person when an inmate dies.

"Right now no one from the sheriff's office has said one word to this mother about what happened to her daughter," said Quannel X.

Anthony's death is the latest in a line of problems at the jail.

The U.S. Department of Justice's 15 month long investigation found poor medical care and mental health care.

Investigators concluded the number of deaths at the jail is "alarming." Some sick or hurt inmates were sent to their cells without treatment.

"Sheriff Garcia is taking a look at all sheriff's department policies from top to bottom," said spokesman Keir Murray.

Murray says many changes have already been made since the report. The latest death investigation will include taking a look at how the family was informed.

"We will be willing to take a comprehensive look at the policy and consider making some adjustments to it," added Murray.