The family of a woman who died in Harris County Jail is seeking answers following alarming reports from fellow inmates. Monica Lee Love was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. at Saint Joseph Hospital, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. However, five inmates who were housed with her claim that she passed away in the jail without receiving any medical assistance.
Latavia Love, one of Monica’s daughters, described her mother as a kind and generous individual. Monica, a mother of seven, had a nonviolent criminal record primarily related to theft. She had been held in Harris County Jail for 24 days, unable to post bond due to a warrant from Brazoria County.
On Saturday evening, Latavia received concerning phone calls from five inmates who were distressed over Monica’s situation. The inmates, who identified themselves and provided their jail identification numbers, expressed their outrage at what they had witnessed. They reported that medical staff took between 20 to 25 minutes to arrive, during which time Monica was reportedly already deceased. They also indicated that CPR was not administered, and the presence of urine made staff hesitant to move her to a stretcher.
Monica had been hospitalized the previous Tuesday for heart-related issues and was known to have a pacemaker. She returned to jail just one day before her tragic death. Latavia reflected on the importance of the inmates’ testimonies, stating, “It’s a good thing we have those inmates to speak for her because all we would have had is a call saying she was dead.”
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has announced that an investigation is underway, involving the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the Texas Rangers, as mandated by state law. Additionally, the internal affairs division of the sheriff’s office is looking into whether proper protocols were followed during the incident. The cause of Monica’s death remains under investigation pending an autopsy.
