Reported inmate suicide at Smith County Jail

SMITH COUNTY — An unresponsive inmate found by jail staff in the clinic of the Smith County Jail around 12:30 Saturday morning has died. The inmate, identified as Kevin Wayne Freeman, 52, of Tyler, died Saturday night. Detention staff noticed a shirt around the inmate’s neck, tied to a metal curtain. Detention staff immediately cut the shirt off of the inmate and began CPR. The inmate was transported to a local ER. Freeman’s family has been notified. Per Smith County Sheriff’s Office protocol, Sheriff Larry Smith contacted the Texas Rangers to conduct an investigation into this incident. The body has been transported to Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for the autopsy.