A now-former jailer is among the five facing a murder charge in connection to the man’s death.
SAN ANTONIO — The family of a man investigators said was killed by a group of inmates at the Bexar County Jail are calling for accountability and transparency.
On April 28, investigators said 46-year-old Francisco Bazan was brutally beaten in his cell after a now-former jailer let a group of inmates in. According to an arrest warrant, that jailer told the inmates “Don’t make it bad” and watched the attack.
He has been identified as 20-year-old Clemente Lopez and is facing a murder charge. At least four other inmates are also accused of murder.
Jessica Garcia is Bazan’s niece. She said her uncle had struggled with substance abuse for years which landed him in and out of jail. However, they were hopeful this time he would get clean. Instead, they are planning a funeral.
“He agreed to do a year so that way he can get clean again for his daughter and for his wife and we thought that he’d be safe and sober,” Garcia said.
Bazan was found unresponsive in his cell on April 30. The medical examiner ruled his death as a homicide from blunt force trauma from the attack days before.
“We can’t stop thinking about that he suffered,” Garcia said.
Sheriff Javier Salazar said when he found out what happened, he drove to the jail to fire Lopez. However, he learned Lopez had already resigned.
“On that day that it happened, it caught a lot of us by surprise,” Salazar said. “We were shocked, disappointed is an understatement.”
The investigation was handed over to the Texas Rangers since it involved a BCSO deputy. Sheriff Salazar said his office has helped assist in any way with the investigation.
“Well in regard to the family, it is a heartbreaking situation,” Salazar said. “I want them to know from our perspective we want nothing more to make sure who is responsible for doing this to their loved one is held responsible.”
However, Garcia is concerned with what Lopez was allegedly able to get away with prior to her uncle’s death. According to the warrant, the former deputy knew about illegal narcotics being smuggled and sold in the jail. It also states he had known about at least 10 other assaults.
“It’s corrupt, the system is corrupt if they’re allowing drugs to be smuggled, they’re allowing this type of activity,” Garcia said.
She said she hopes the sheriff evaluates his hiring process for jailers and examines the state of his jail to weed out any corruption.
“I hope that my uncle’s death doesn’t go in vain and that it stops and that they can learn from this and do better,” Garcia said.
Lopez is out on a $500,000 bond.
Bazan is the fourth inmate to die in the Bexar County Jail this year. In 2024, there were 13 deaths. In 2023, there were 18.