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Daniel Pentkowski, 53, of Midland, was found dead in his cell Wednesday at the Bexar County Jail after experiencing an apparent “medical episode.”
According to a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office news release, a cadet found Pentkowski lying on the floor in the fetal position in his cell. The cadet notified a deputy, who then performed life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead after emergency personnel arrived, the release said.
Officials said Pentkowski appeared to have suffered self-inflicted injuries earlier that day.
He was booked on Monday with a bail set at $7,500 after he was charged with retaliation, a third-degree felony.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Unit, Criminal Investigations Division, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Rangers are investigating Pentkowski’s death. San Antonio is the county seat of Bexar County in Texas.
Sheriff’s Office officials said it appears that the observation checks were in compliance with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Pentkowski’s death marks the second inmate death in 2023, at least 10 inmates died over the last year in incidents involving suicide, complications of COVID-19 and even homicide.