An outside investigation cleared the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office of wrongdoing in the February death of an inmate.
Kimberly Phillips, 56, died on Feb. 18, 2025, of malnutrition and dehydration while in sheriff’s custody at John Peter Smith Hospital after refusing meals over the course of multiple days.
On Feb. 19, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office asked the Denton County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an independent investigation into Phillips’ death. According to documents obtained by the Star-Telegram, Denton County sheriff’s investigators spent months reviewing police records, jail records, hospital records and surveillance video before determining the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office had no fault.
The timeline of Kimberly Phillips’ death
Grand Prairie police arrested Phillips on Jan. 24 on two outstanding warrants related to an assault in North Richland Hills. Phillips was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on Jan. 25…