Investigation Reveals TDCJ Michael Unit Inmate Dies From Overdose

By Lance Lowry

07-22-2024

Huntsville, Texas – An updated custodial death report filed by the Texas Board of Criminal Justice Inspector General to the Texas Attorney General has ruled the death of an inmate at the Micheal Unit on November 20, 2023 at 1:04 PM as an accidental overdose.

The inmate identified as John Anthony Vela, age 46, was reported to have died from “Synthetic cannabinoid toxicity (5F-ADB metabolite identified)”.

Synthetic marijuana (also known as K2, Spice, and Fake Bake) has been an issue for TDCJ over the last several years. The agency established a Digital Mail Scanning System to prevent the drug from being smuggled in through correspondence dipped in the liquid form of the drug to inmates.

TBCJ OIG summary report to the Texas Attorney General was very vague, stating “Inmate John Vela was pronounced dead at the Michael Unit.”

Vela had been incarcerated at the Micheal Unit since May 9, 2017 and had been serving a sentence in TDCJ for Capital Murder since May 9, 2017 according to OIG’s report submitted on July 17, 2024.

TDCJ’s taxpayer funded Director of Communications Amanda Hernandez refuses to comment to our publication.