Marvin Scott's In-Custody Death At Collin County Jail Ruled 'Homicide' By Medical Examiner
McKINNEY, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – Collin County's Medical Examiner announced Wednesday, April 28, the cause and manner of death for Marvin Scott III, who died while in custody at the county jail on March 14.
Dr. William Rohr released his findings that show Scott's cause of death was "fatal acute stress response in an individual with previously diagnosed schizophrenia during restraint struggle with law enforcement."
The manner of death is listed as homicide.
The ME's office is still awaiting laboratory results before completing Mr. Scott's final autopsy report.
Scott, 26, died after being restrained, pepper sprayed and being forced to wear a spit hood.
Six of the seven jailers appealed their terminations and one of them won his appeal last week.
Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner said he disagrees with the decision and is considering his options.
The Texas Rangers are still investigating Scott's death.
Allen Police officers had arrested Scott for possession of less than two ounces of marijuana and took him to the county jail.
Scott's family spent part of Wednesday with prosecutors reviewing video of his final hours inside the jail.
They said it clearly shows the detention officers failed to give Scott the help he needed.
"What we seen today was horrific. Inhumane. Very disheartening – and we want these individuals arrested immediately," said his mother, LaSandra Scott.
The family says Marvin was in the middle of a schizophrenic episode.
"The video shows Marvin clearly expressing that he was in distress. The video shows signs that any neutral observer could see that this person was rapidly deteriorating and needed help. Instead of responding with help… and getting Marvin to a facility to treat him… He was brutalized," said Scott family attorney Lee Merritt. "He was treated as someone who was criminally non-compliant, not someone who was in need of desperate help."
