FORT WORTH, Texas — The mother of the latest inmate to die by suicide in the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth is looking for answers.
Darlene Reese pushed through tears talking about Ronald Reese. She's flooded with a long list of questions. Her 32-year-old son is now listed among the number of inmates who the medical examiner says committed suicide.
"How was he able to do it? I am not getting any answers." said Darlene Reese, "It's very emotional for me. I know my son had problems."
The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office says on March 5, detention officers found Reese hanging in his jail cell, cut him down and started CPR. Paramedics took him to JPS hospital. His mother shared photographs of her son on life support. He passed away on March 7.
Watch Darlene Reese's full interview here:
Ronald Reese's death follows the loss of her husband, who died from cancer five years ago, and the suicide death of another son about four months ago.
"It's heart wrenching. He wasn't a perfect child, but it's your child and you love him," Darlene Reese said.
Since April 2020, six inmates have died of suicide. That number includes Ronald Reese. Deputy Chief Charles Eckert shared information about their efforts to stop jail suicides during a recent interview with WFAA Investigative Reporter Tanya Eisner.
"I don't think people realize how many suicides we prevent," said Eckert. "Last year, we stopped in progress over 270 suicide attempts that never completed suicide."
But in Darlene Reese's son's case, while performing general population jail checks every 40 minutes, his last check was at 5:37 p.m. Jail security video shows Reese opening his cell door at 5:52 p.m., handing something to another inmate. Then, at 6:02 p.m., jailers found him hanging. Darlene Reese just attended an organ donor flag ceremony for her son whose organs will give others the gift of life.
Still, because he was in custody she said she believes something could have been done to keep her son from taking his own life.
"They are supposed to take care of you," said Darlene Reese.
WFAA reached out to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office about the suicide death of Ronald Reese. A spokesperson told WFAA he would check the Sheriff's schedule.
Darlene Reese is considering legal avenues. She said someone needs to be held accountable for her son's death and she hopes no other mother will have to experience the heartbreak her family has right now.