Smith County Officials, Texas Rangers Investigate Inmate’s Death

SMITH COUNTY — Officials have reported the death of an inmate at the Smith County Jail. According to officials, around 5:30 Monday evening, as rounds were being made to serve the evening meal, an inmate in a cell on the second floor failed to respond to receive his food tray. Detention Officers entered the cell and found the inmate, identified as Robert Reed Rowan, 27, Flint, unresponsive. Officials said a code blue was issued alerting additional jail staff and inmate medical personnel to respond. Tyler Fire and EMS were also dispatched. Efforts to revive Rowan were unsuccessful. His body has been sent to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas for autopsy.

Rowan was incarcerated on a 180 day commitment for nonpayment of child support and was originally incarcerated on October 24, 2014. The Texas Rangers have been contacted regarding the death and are in the process of conducting an investigation. This is also standard protocol in the event of the death of an in custody inmate.