Waller County, Texas District Attorney Elton Mathis has announced the death of Sandra Bland will be treated as thoroughly “as it would be in a murder investigation”, but at the same press conference Waller County Sheriff’s Office Captain of Patrol Brian Cantrell had this to say:
“I want to make clear that the death of Ms. Bland was a tragic incident — not one of criminal intent or a criminal act,” Cantrell said.
In the meantime, a new warning sign has popped up in Prairie View, Texas. From Molly Hennessy-Ficke (via Twitter):
In Prairie View, tx #sandrablandpic.twitter.com/wvjUa5D2Rg
— Molly Hennessy-Fiske (@mollyhf) July 21, 2015
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Sandra Bland’s Death Will Be Investigated as Thoroughly as Murder Case: DA
From NBC News by by
The probe into the jail cell death of Sandra Bland will be treated as thoroughly “as it would be in a murder investigation,” a Texas district attorney said Monday.
“There are many questions being raised about this case,” Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis said during an evening news conference. “It needs a thorough and exhaustive review.”
Yet, Waller County Sheriff’s Office Captain of Patrol Brian Cantrell said at the same press conference that Bland’s July 12 death inside a Waller County Jail was already ruled a suicide.
“I want to make clear that the death of Ms. Bland was a tragic incident — not one of criminal intent or a criminal act,” Cantrell said.
Cantrell claimed Bland, 28, strangled herself with a jail cell trash bag, but her family has disputed the very notion that she would kill herself. They have asked for an independent autopsy.
“Ms. Bland’s family did make valid points that she did have a lot of things going on in her life that were good,” Mathis said.