Denton County Sheriff Tracy Murphree told both outlets that initial evidence shows the inmate may have died of suicide. The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office has not released an official cause of death.
Sunnie Cox, a friend of Murphey’s who also lives in Denton, said in a social media message that Murphey had dealt with mental health issues the last few years of her life.
The Texas Rangers are investigating.
She was found unresponsive during a routine cell check two days later and pronounced dead at 11:46 a.m.
The Tarrant County Medical Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death asphyxia by hanging.