An individual being held at the El Paso County Jail Annex has died in custody, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday morning, saying the case is under active investigation and that further details are on hold for now.
What the sheriff posted
The brief statement, shared on Sheriff Oscar Ugarte’s Facebook page, confirmed that the death occurred at the Jail Annex and said the office would not release additional information while investigators continue their work, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. The post did not identify the person who died or list a cause of death.
What happens next
Deaths that occur in custody typically trigger a medicolegal investigation and, when warranted, an autopsy and toxicology testing by the county medical examiner. In El Paso County, the Office of the Medical Examiner handles those forensic examinations and related testing. This process can take days or even weeks to complete, according to the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner.
Local context and scrutiny
In-custody deaths have been under a microscope in El Paso. Reporting shows the Sheriff’s Office recorded 10 in-custody deaths in 2025, including suicides, natural deaths, and suspected overdoses, according to the El Paso Times. An autopsy earlier this year in a separate custody case was later ruled a homicide, a development that local outlets say has intensified calls for transparency and outside review. Hoodline coverage of the custody death homicide ruling highlighted mounting pressure from advocates and some local leaders, who have pushed for clearer public briefings whenever someone dies behind bars.
How officials say the public can follow updates
The Sheriff’s Office has urged the public to wait for official findings and said it will share updates through its public affairs channels. If you are a media outlet or a family member seeking information, please contact the department’s public information officers, listed on the county’s contact page for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
Depending on the circumstances, outside agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Rangers, have at times been brought in to assist with in-custody death investigations in other Texas counties, as regional reporting has shown. See coverage from KCBD for an example of how such probes have been handled elsewhere.
The department’s original statement remains posted on its social feed, and officials say they will release more information when they consider it appropriate. This story will be updated as new details are released by the Sheriff’s Office or the Medical Examiner.
