56-Year-Old Tarrant County Jail Inmate Dies Under Medical Care

A 56-year-old inmate, Kimberly Phillips, died while under medical care at John Peter Smith Hospital on February 18 after being transferred from the Tarrant County Jail on February 15. Phillips had been in custody since January 24, facing felony charges related to injury to a child or elderly person and obstruction/retaliation. The circumstances surrounding her medical condition and the reasons for her transfer remain unclear, as the sheriff's office has not disclosed specific details. This marks the second in-custody death in Tarrant County for 2025, with the first occurring on February 8 due to complications from a suicide attempt. The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office has faced criticism for the high number of in-custody deaths, with more than 60 reported since 2017, many attributed to natural or medical causes. All in-custody deaths are subjected to investigation by multiple agencies, including the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.