Smith County Jail Inmate Found Dead in Cell

It was pretty obvious he died of natural causes, but we will request an autopsy A Smith County Jail inmate was found dead in his cell early Thursday morning. Jerome Demon Lacy, 26, of Tyler was serving a sentence for failure to pay child support at the time of his death. via Tyler Morning Telegraph

[Unknown]

Ya'll know he didn't die of natural causes it's something ya'll feed him!

[u know]

its very OBVIOUS THAT YA TRYING TO COVER UP HIS DEATH HOW DO A HEALTHY YOUNG MAN AT 26 JUST DIES THAS A DAMM LIE .HE WENT IN THE CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH BUT NOW HE ALLOF SUDDEN HE DIES OF NATURAL CAUSES.THIS COUNTY IS SO SO WICKED ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY.BEFORE HIS BODY CAN GET COLD THEY WERE ALREADY TRYING TO COVR HIS DEATH.HIS FAMILY WAS NOT INFORM OF HIS DEATH THEY HAD TO BE INFORMED BY A FREIND OF HIS BROTHER.ALSO NOTE THAT THE SHERRIFF OFFICE SAID THAT ITS WAS UNDER INVESTGATION BUT HOURS LATER THEY ARE CALLING HE DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES. PLEASE IF ANYONE THAT WAS ON THAT SHIFT PLKASE COME FORTH TO THE FAMILY .LETS NOT LET THIS COUNTY GT AWAY WITH MURDER CAUSE NEXT IT COULD BE UR COUSIN,UNCLE,DADDY,BROTHR,SON THAT NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WILL NOT GET IT.

[Top Secret]

Or he could have just died. Plain and simple.

[muck]

I know that the smith county jail uses the same approach to controlling the inmates in thier cutody as the millitary. They are some what arrogant and feel untouchable as does a large percentage of the police force in Smith county. It is unfortunate that the only attention to rectify some of the concerns from the community is to recieve negative press. Tyler and the surrounding areas will move mountins to keep there "Black Eye" covered up. Sometimes a situation will arise and it is totaly as it seems but due to the grey areas in law enforcement everything is suspect. The bottom line in Smith county is MONEY. If you don't have it you'r screwed. It is so eaisy to think that all is well untill it happens to you. I am a supporter of my law enforcement officers as well as the smith county officers. I just wonder how long will it be before they mistreat me.

[muck]

Top Secret wrote:

Or he could have just died. Plain and simple.

IN TIME SOMEONE WILL SAY THE SAME ABOUT YOU!

[Top Secret]

muck wrote:

<quoted text> IN TIME SOMEONE WILL SAY THE SAME ABOUT YOU!

Yes they will. Just because a man died in prison everyone crys foul. He could have really actually truthfully JUST died. I am not saying he was bad/good I am simpley saying unless you know ALL the facts and unless you were involved you can not really have a say in what happened.

[a medical professional]

How many young black males have you seen died on the basketball court, the football field or the running track???
Its a very real possibility he had an undiagnosed heart abnormality...as is usually the case when a young person dies with NO trauma or drug induced factors.
The world would be such a better place if people waited for facts before wanting to "hang someone".
With the way you all are talking its like going back 50 years to the LYNCH MOBS!!! Hangem High and Don't ask questions.
If you are concerned, get the autopsy results.
They won't LIE!!!!

[Concerned]

I hope that the family of this young man can move on in life and know that God controls everything - wether incarcerated or on the streets when its your time to go - YOU BETTER BE READY, God does not take reservations, this is not a go when your ready situation. Only the foolish will blame everyone and not consider that he is a much better place. GOOD LUCK! Remeber those in Law Enforcement are the same as you and me - they have a job to do and its a hard job, who are you to place blame???

[Sm co Justice]

I used to be a HUGE supporter of Smith County. Then I lived it. Did you know that only 10% of people on probation in Smith County complete it? Did you know that I was ordered by a certain crazy judge to spend New Years Eve in jail for placing a call that was proven in court that I did not make??? And when I got there I was told I would need to take a shower. I told them I was clean and did not need one. But thanks anyway. I was made to strip down and take a showere right after a cracked out black woman. In the shower stall was about a foot of standing water, you could not see the bottom of. A bloody tampon was floating in it,(obviously from the woman before me). I refused to be in, they told me they would file some kimd of disruptin justice blah blah blah charges on me, and I would stay in longer. I had NO CHOICE. It was totally discusting. I know you hear people all the time say they are innocent, but I TRUELY WAS!!! Really. I used to be married to a police officer, and I used to do charity work for Smith County. Did you know that prior your hearing to be placed on probation you are made to take a drug test once a week??? 1 out of every 10 cups are faulty. And if a certain female judge is your judge and it comes back possitive you go directly to jail untill they send it to the lab. AND THE LAB SAYS 1 out of ever 10 is faulty. Now do not get me wrong, if you do something bad you deserve to go to jail, but in these conditions?? I would never have believed this is the type of justice system we had unless I saw it first hand. Believe me, Smith County Justice is very much still alive, even if they did burn the book about it.

[anon]

the officers at smith county jail are incompetent and have no compassion for anyone be it the inmate or family member. One person will tell you one thing then the next one will tell you something different;regardless what crime the person has commtted he or she is still one of god's children and should be treated with some respect. some people make poor choices and need to pay for them but that's not a valid reason to withhold a person's medication or contact lens or ignore someone when they need a doctor but for the grace of god it could be them or someone they love. crime is a terrible thing but those in charge at the jail need to keep in mind that is why they have a job to begin with. it sure isnt because they are intelligent. what goes around comes around!!!

[Smith Revolt]

I would believe anything could be true about smith county Texas. Check out www.dotcomrevolt for more on the subject. I hope we can change all this someday.

[Smith Revolt]

Sorry, that should have been www.dotrevolt.com . Totally different places

[doubting Thomas]

My big question Is? Why should someone be in jail for failing to pay child support..How can he work to pay child support if he is in Jail? No wonder the Smith Co. jails are full. Did anyone try to help this young man find a job? On the big minimun wage increase I'm sure he will have plenty of money left over..

[SimpleLife]

I know this is off the statement here..but did they ever find that girl that disappeared from the club in gladewater or where it was can't remember exactly

[topsy kretts]

a medical professional wrote:

How many young black males have you seen died on the basketball court, the football field or the running track???
Its a very real possibility he had an undiagnosed heart abnormality...as is usually the case when a young person dies with NO trauma or drug induced factors.
The world would be such a better place if people waited for facts before wanting to "hang someone".
With the way you all are talking its like going back 50 years to the LYNCH MOBS!!! Hangem High and Don't ask questions.
If you are concerned, get the autopsy results.
They won't LIE!!!!

Medical professional my big toe! You sound like a racial pig to me!

[Rand]

"Tyler and the surrounding areas will move mountins to keep there "Black Eye" covered up."
Doubt it. We don't care what a bunch of bigoted a-holes think.
"Medical professional my big toe! You sound like a racial pig to me!"
Wow! Another jerk who knows not of what they speak.

[JusticeOne]

If the family of this inmate has any concerns about how their loved one died, please contact us, we are non-profit which helps families seek answers to deaths that occur while incarcerated. We can usually bring justice for families who have to deal with the correctional system nation wide. Contact us at [e-mail]
Our sympathy to the family of Jerome.

[Misty]

I'm Sorry for the death of Jerome and my prays are with this family. I think that when it is a persons time to go rather they are in jail, at work, driving, or just watching T.v. no matter what when it is there time to go then its there time. I don't think Smith county would intential kill somebody i think that is Kiddy stuff. But again my prays are with this family. So i think that who ever made that statement above should not judge somebody before they know.

[SAM]

I am also a medical professional. This young black male could have had problem before being placed in the Smith Co. Jail. But I also know that if those medical conditions are not treated or reconized or should I say, "neglected", this would be a "natural cause" but a death that may have been prevented. God gives us a time to die and it was not 26 years of age. But due to certain things, we can shorten our lives. The judge that sentenced him to jail for unpayment of child support is quite unreasonable and does abuse her office. While the family is having the death investagated, your lawyer may want to investagate her as well. The family will be remembered in my prayers.

[Will]

Hmmmm he does not show in the jail inmate data base as ever being in Smith County Jail.