TDCJ Robertson Unit Death Investigation Ruled Accident by Overdose

By Lance Lowry

07-21-2024

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 Robertson Unit on October 10, 2023 at 9:13 PM as an accidental overdose.

The inmate identified as Derrick McKelphin, age 48, was reported to have died from “aspiration of gastric contents” caused from synthetic cannabinoid which was detected in postmortem blood samples.

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 “On October 10, 2023, the inmate was pronounced deceased by medical staff.”

McKelphin had been incarcerated at the Robertson Unit since August 23, 2023 and had been serving a sentence in TDCJ for aggravated robbery since July 6, 1995 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.