Federal Inmate's Death Under Investigation
Scott Lawrence
February 13, 2008 - 4:08PM

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has ordered an investigation into the death of an inmate at the penitentiary in Beaumont.

According to a news release from the Bureau of Prisons, an inmate was found unresponsive in his cell at about 6:45 a.m. Wednesday. The staff provided medical attention and the inmate was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 7:30 a.m.

An autopsy has been ordered. The Bureau of Prisons isn't releasing the inmate's name until it notifies relatives.

The Bureau says the penitentiary is on lockdown because of a previous, unrelated incident.

According to the Bureau, the institution is secure, all inmates have been accounted for and there is no threat to public safety.

http://www.kfdm.com/onset?id=24729&template=article.html

USP Beaumont: Family members identify dead federal inmate
By: Fred Davis , The Enterprise

The federal inmate who was found dead in his cell at the Beaumont Federal Correctional Complex has been identified as Ronald Joseph, 29, of Richmond, Virginia, according to family members.

Link to rest of story:

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19295512&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6

Yeah investigation under way my ass, A one way investigation you can bet on that !!

Iam sure it will be in no way the BOP at fault in any way!!

THIS REALLY SCARES ME! IT MAKES ME CRY! Its my Luvs firts month in Beaumont / prison and to read this just hurts me....
what kind of system they got going in there???!!!

Don't cry, C Blue - it doesn't happen very often. There are many prisoners who are just fine. Mine's been fine for many years, in three different institutions. Just love 'em and enjoy those letters, phone calls and visits. Z.

I tried to talk to Antionne about it, but he really didnt say much. Im anxious to hear what happened.. cause all he kept talking about was the race riot...

Thank you so much for that information. I have been going crazy for about 3 weeks now. I still haven't gotten a call from my son. I did get a letter last week though. My prayers are with the family in the loss of their loved one.

02/15/2008

Another Beaumont inmate killed

By FRED DAVIS , The Enterprise

The FBI is investigating the second homicide in three months at the maximum security U.S. Penitentiary in Beaumont, but the dead inmate's family is frustrated with the lack of information they're receiving.

Ronald Joseph, 29, was found unresponsive in his cell Wednesday morning and pronounced dead 45 minutes later, prison officials said.

The prison remained on lockdown - during which inmates are restricted to their cells - Thursday evening according to a prison dispatcher.

Justice of the Peace Tom Gilliam III said he received preliminary autopsy results Wednesday evening and early indications were the Richmond, Va., native was murdered.

"Several things were wrong with the body," Gillam said.

Link to rest of the story:
http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19298833&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6

That is so sad. I will def send up a prayer for the family. Thanks for the info Z.

Questions outnumber facts in death of inmate
By FRED DAVIS, The Enterprise


http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19312275&BRD=2287\
&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6


An inmate found unresponsive in his cell at Beaumont's United States
Penitentiary Feb. 13 was strangled, said Dr. Tommy Brown, forensic
pathologist with the Jefferson County Morgue.

Ronald Joseph, 29, had compression marks around his neck that could
have been made with a rope or an arm, according to Brown.

Joseph's death, which Brown ruled a homicide, is being investigated by
the Bureau of Prisons and the FBI, Special Agent Anne Figueiras
confirmed.

When discovered at 6:45 a.m. Feb. 13 in his cell, Joseph was wearing
only his undershorts. Rigor mortis had set in, according to Brown and
inquest information regarding Joseph's death.

Brown said rigor mortis, the body's stiffening after death, can set in
as early as three hours post mortem. Full rigor can occur within 8 to 12
hours after death.

The Bureau of Prisons said Joseph was taken to a hospital and pronounced
dead at 7:30 a.m.

Official autopsy results have not been released, and Justice of the
Peace Tom Gillam III said toxicology reports still are at least three
weeks away.

Family members in Richmond, Va., Joseph's hometown, are upset over the
lack of information they've received about the death and they have
serious doubts regarding the circumstances, specifically questioning
where Joseph was housed inside the prison.

While neither the FBI nor the Bureau of Prisons would comment on
specifics of the ongoing investigation, Brown said it was his
understanding there were other inmates in Joseph's cell at the time of
his death.

That bothers Erika Joseph, Ronald Joseph's sister, because the last time
she spoke with her brother, he mentioned going into an isolation cell in
the prison to possibly get away from dangers he perceived inside.

Erika Joseph never received any kind of confirmation from her brother or
prison officials that he was housed in an isolation cell.

Lisa Davis, public information officer for the Beaumont Federal
Correctional Complex, wouldn't comment on where Joseph was housed but
said, "our living quarters are generally designed to house more than one
inmate."

A series of questions were submitted in writing by The Enterprise to
Beaumont Federal Prison officials Tuesday morning, as required by prison
officials.

Davis said "an accurate response" to the questions would be given as
soon as possible, but no timetable was given.

Erika Joseph also is vexed as to how the incident could have occurred
while the prison was on lockdown, which restricts prisoners to their
cells, especially if her brother was in isolation.

He had not said anything to her about being in general population, but
if by some unfortunate chance he was among other inmates as opposed to
being in isolation, Joseph said the person or persons responsible for
killing her brother are deranged.

"To kill a person and then lay in the same room at the same time as that
person? That is sick."

I quote a memorandum from the warden, "Regretfully, on the morning of Wednesday, February 13, 2008, inmate in the SHU was found unresponsive in his cell. Medical staff immediately responded and provided emergency medical treatment." The update goes on then to say, "...Sunday, February 17, 2008, and inmate who was celled alone in DB unit notified staff he was experiencing medical problems. Staff attempted to assist him and he was taken to the health services unit for treatment. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital and was pronounced dead a short time after his arrival."
Just thought I would let you know what I know. Anyone know anything about what Frisco Lady posted about all the high security prisoners leaving Beaumont??

I'm always getting in trouble for posting in the wrong place and I hope I'm doing this right, but is there any way we can find out any kind of address or whatever on the deceased to send sympathy cards, words of encouragement or even a love offering in their time of need? Just a thought! Some times it helps to know that others understand what you're going through and are concerned about your well-being.

My boyfriend had told me about this. He has just been moved up there
when it happened.
He told me FBI agents were up there investigating.