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Harris County Jail inmate dies after being found 'unresponsive’ in his cell, officials say

Paul Joshua Jacobs was found dead inside his cell at the Harris County Jail. (HCSO)

HOUSTON – An inmate at the Harris County Jail was found unresponsive in his cell over the weekend, officials said.

Paul Joshua Jacobs, 33, was discovered around 2 a.m. Saturday after his cellmate called the guards for help, according to authorities.

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His cellmate told guards that Jacobs may have had a seizure. When the guards went to check on him, they said they found Jacobs unresponsive.

Medics were called and Jacobs was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital. Records show he had been in custody since April 28.

Jacobs was facing burglary with intent to commit another felony and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon charges when he was taken into custody in April. Court records show the robbery charge was dismissed and then refiled as the burglary charge. The burglary charge was dismissed following Jacobs’ death.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has asked the Texas Rangers to investigate Jacobs’ death. The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet determined a cause of death.


About the Authors
Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli headshot

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.

Robert Arnold headshot

Award winning investigative journalist who joined KPRC 2 in July 2000. Husband and father of the Master of Disaster and Chaos Gremlin. “I don’t drink coffee to wake up, I wake up to drink coffee.”

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