Smith County Jail Inmate Found Dead

SMITH COUNTY — An inmate at the Smith County Jail has been found dead early Monday morning. Carlos Jose Hernandez, Jr, 21, Troup, was found around 12:20 a.m. According to Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, a detention officer noticed Hernandez hanging from the shower in a side cell. Emergency crews were unable to resuscitate the inmate. The Texas Rangers were called to the scene, along with the Justice of the Peace. An autopsy has been ordered. Hernandez was booked into the Smith County Jail at 4:15 Sunday morning on charges including possession of marijuana, possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance and also had an Immigration Customs Enforcement detainer. Total bonds were $8,500, however, he couldn’t bond out due to the ICE detainer.

Sheriff Smith said that because of his response to pre-booking questions, Hernandez was placed in a side cell on suicide watch with ten minute observations. Online records show Hernandez Jr. to have been incarcerated in the Smith County Jail on two previous occasions.